Tottenham is currently third from bottom in the Premier League and is two points adrift of the fourth from bottom position. With only five matchdays left, it’s a situation that is nothing short of desperate, and indeed the Spurs are doing anything they can to avoid what would be a historic, incredible relegation. The latest attempt is the search for a professional psychologist to be permanently added to the staff with the aim of supporting the players and improving the team’s mental resilience. Despite several players already working with personal psychologists, De Zerbi and the club want an “integrated” figure within the group. The club has defined the role as “high impact,” designed to develop a “psychologically informed performance culture” within the locker room.
The announcement for the position of “lead psychologist” for the first team reads: “We are looking for a top-level performance psychologist to join our team. This is a high-impact role, integrated into the environment of the men’s first team at Hotspur Way.” The required profile will need to lead, within a multidisciplinary staff, the delivery of evidence-based psychological support for elite players. The role includes individual support for players, systemic work with technical staff and performance staff, as well as the continuous development of a performance culture also based on psychological principles. The club emphasizes the need for “a credible, discreet, and highly effective professional in a Premier League context,” capable of building trust with players and coaches, operating with the professional rigor required at the highest levels of football.
Indeed, Tottenham players appeared truly dejected after throwing away the victory against Brighton in the last Premier League match at the 95th minute. Conceding the equalizer in this way was yet another blow in a disastrous season, so disastrous that the Spurs haven’t won a league match since December 28th last year. Xavi Simons (who, for the record, has his own mental coach) had given the Spurs hope with a stunning goal in the 77th minute, seemingly decisive, before the late blow from Georginio Rutter.
The decision to seek a psychologist is no coincidence: Roberto De Zerbi, appointed three weeks ago after Tudor’s dismissal, explained that he sees his role more as that of a “big brother and father” to the players, rather than just a coach. According to De Zerbi, his task is to help them reach “a different level of confidence.” And it is precisely here, at this point, that the idea of integrating the team’s technical staff with a figure capable of supporting the manager in aiding the players was born. Just to share an anecdote: after the away defeat against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League last month, Micky van de Ven admitted that he had even stopped checking his phone, just to avoid reading criticism and attacks on him and his teammates. For this reason, De Zerbi is maintaining a positive approach: the Italian coach has expressed satisfaction with the performance of his players against Brighton and added that he will “send home” anyone who shows up with a sad face at training.