De Zerbi: We deserved to win, and this is the situation with Maddison

Roberto De Zerbi, the manager of Tottenham, expressed his happiness at the 2-0 victory over Chelsea in the match held at Stamford Bridge, as part of the eighth round of the Premier League, confirming that his players deserved the win thanks to their hard work and good preparation for the encounter.

De Zerbi said in statements to the "BBC" network on the "Match of the Day" program: "I think we deserved the victory. The players worked very well, and they prepared for the match in the best way, whether this morning, yesterday, or throughout last week. The players' potential is very clear, and I am happy with their spirit. I think we need to change the final stage of our club's history, and I want to continue on this path."

Regarding the fighting spirit displayed by the team, he explained: "Football is certainly based on the quality of play and players, but it is also a competition and a struggle. You have to run, fight, get to the second ball first, and win the duels, and that is what we did."

The Italian coach spoke about his plan against Chelsea, saying: "We knew that Chelsea play well, and they have a clear organization and a defined structure on the pitch. Therefore, we prepared our players by relying on midfielders, while giving James Maddison the freedom to move into the spaces where he feels he can make an impact."

Regarding James Maddison's injury, De Zerbi said: "He played very well during his time on the pitch, then Conor Gallagher came on with different characteristics and a different style, but he also performed well. Maddison is a different player; he feels the game and understands it, and it's easier for me to work when I have a player with such talent. I don't think the injury is serious, but we have to wait to know more."

Regarding Mathys Tel, he added: "He needs to play to understand football better and become calmer, but he has great talent."

Roberto De Zerbi emphasized the importance of the victory in boosting the players' confidence, stating: "It is important for the players to believe in their abilities more, because their potential is very high. We are happy for the fans first, because we know what it means to win against Chelsea, and also for the club. The club and its fans have suffered in recent years, but the supporters believe in this project and this group, and I am happy for them."

When asked if this was the best performance of the team under his leadership, he concluded his remarks: "With Tottenham, definitely."