By the time Saturday rolls around, it will have been 616 days since Tottenham last won three Premier League games on the bounce. Three different managers have come and gone since the feat was last achieved, none able to steer Spurs to a streak of more than two. Roberto De Zerbi is the latest boss to try his hand at the hat-trick.
Wins over Coventry City and Chelsea have preceded this weekend's meeting with Crystal Palace, live on Sky Sports. The elusive treble is within reach. To right such a wrong would be a huge stepping stone for Spurs under De Zerbi.
Not only would the result propel them into the top half of the table, but its potential to heal the wounded Spurs psyche would surely be invaluable. Dr Tottenham have long been craving a healer of their own. A manager who is able to match stylistic promise with sound leadership.
Many thought the pursuit of a fiery Italian known to be volatile in previous roles was a high-risk appointment, and yet the gamble had obvious growth potential. A way back from anonymity. Instead of finding endless ways to lose games, either by shrinking from the fight or being unable to resist the temptation to self-destruct, Spurs have started to exhibit discipline and control in their performances.
Tottenham finally have a tactical plan. There is structure and identity to their patterns of play, working in packs to adhere to De Zerbi's demands of an aggressive man-to-man press. Since he took charge in March, only three teams have forced more high turnovers (120) and won more possessions in the final third (72).
"I think we have suffered enough," De Zerbi said after beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge for the first time since April 2018, harking back to halcyon days under Mauricio Pochettino. "The results of the past are not our responsibility. We are working to change the mentality of our club." Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Spurs trumping their rivals at the Bridge without conceding had not happened since December 1986, but of course the real power is in how De Zerbi legitimises what he describes as a "different Tottenham".
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