De Zerbi commits to stay at Spurs next season regardless of results

 (Reuters) - New Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi said he will remain in charge next season regardless of ​results, describing the role as the biggest challenge ‌of his career after signing a long-term contract with the relegation-threatened Premier League club.

Former Brighton & Hove Albion manager De Zerbi was appointed ​following the departure of Croatian Igor Tudor, with Spurs battling ​to avoid the drop from the top flight ⁠for the first time since 1977.

The 46-year-old has seven ​games to lift Spurs out of danger, with the ​North London side 17th on 30 points, only one point and place above the relegation zone after 31 matches and without a ​league victory since December.

"I signed a five-year contract because ​for me it is a big challenge," De Zerbi said in his ‌first ⁠interview with the club's in-house YouTube channel.

"I will be the coach of Tottenham next season, no matter what."

De Zerbi is set to take charge of his first match ​away to Sunderland ​on April ⁠12.

The Italian acknowledged Spurs are enduring a "tough moment" but said the squad has the ​quality to overcome their struggles.

"We have to ​be focused ⁠on the Sunderland game. I don't want to talk about the schedule. Game by game we have to prepare ⁠the ​players to win," he said.

"After this ​part of the season, I think, we can become great in the ​future."