Tottenham Hotspur's revival under new boss Roberto De Zerbi is picking up serious momentum, and midfielder Conor Gallagher has lifted the lid on the Italian's secret weapon: one-on-one meetings that are rebuilding shattered confidence.
After a rocky start to the season that saw Spurs hovering dangerously close to the relegation zone, De Zerbi's hands-on approach has sparked a dramatic turnaround. Sunday's 2-1 victory over Aston Villa at Villa Park pushed Tottenham clear of the bottom three, with West Ham United taking the fall instead. It's a far cry from where the North London side was just weeks ago, and Gallagher credits De Zerbi's personalized touch for the transformation.
"The gaffer has been brilliant with us. He's brought the team together. He's really worked on players individually with one-to-one meetings and one-to-one chats, trying to get that belief and confidence back in the players. He's done that with me and it's made a big difference," Gallagher revealed. "I know he's done that with a lot of the other lads. As a team as well, all the work he's done on the training pitch and the meeting rooms, it's been fantastic and everyone is on the same page."
The 26-year-old midfielder, who joined Spurs for £35 million from Atletico Madrid in January, has been a prime example of De Zerbi's impact. Gallagher netted his first goal for the club at Villa Park—a precise low strike from distance—marking his first away Premier League goal in over two years, coincidentally at the same ground. It was a performance that earned him Man of the Match honors and drew high praise from his manager.
"Yes, absolutely. When Gallagher plays like this, we play with 12 players because you can find him as a striker, as a midfielder, as a full-back, everywhere on the pitch you can find him!" De Zerbi enthused. The Italian has long admired Gallagher, having targeted him during his Chelsea days, and now believes he's unlocked that same dynamic player.
Spurs remain unbeaten in their last three fixtures under De Zerbi (one draw, two wins), and with two of their final three games at home, the timing of his arrival feels perfect. For a team that was staring down the barrel of relegation, De Zerbi's blend of tactical work and emotional intelligence is proving to be the perfect antidote—and Gallagher is just one of many players rediscovering their best form in a white shirt.