LONDON (AP) 鈥� Newly hired Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi insisted he never meant to 鈥渄ownplay the issue of violence against women鈥� by previously coming out in support of a player who was charged with including attempted rape.
on Tuesday on a five-year deal wasn’t taken well by many of the club’s supporters who are unhappy about his past comments about Mason Greenwood, the former Manchester United striker who he coached at Marseille.
Greenwood was charged in October 2022 with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behavior, and assault after images and videos were posted online. British prosecutors in February 2023 owing to a 鈥渃ombination of the withdrawal of key witnesses鈥� and due to 鈥渘o realistic prospect of conviction.鈥�
During their time together at Marseille, De Zerbi described Greenwood as a 鈥済ood guy鈥� who 鈥減aid dearly for what happened,鈥� adding: 鈥淚 regret what happened in his life because I know someone different from what鈥檚 being described, especially in England.鈥�
That disappointed several Tottenham fan groups, such as Women of the Lane 鈥� a Tottenham-affiliated women鈥檚 supporters鈥� group 鈥� and the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters鈥� Trust, who questioned his judgment and values.
In his first interview as Tottenham manager, conducted with the club’s in-house media on Thursday, De Zerbi addressed a question regarding his comments about Greenwood, answering in his native Italian 鈥渂ecause I want to be clear.鈥�
鈥淚 have never wanted to downplay the issue of violence against women or violence against anyone more broadly,” he said. 鈥淚n my life, I have always stood up for those who are more vulnerable, more fragile, I鈥檝e consistently fought and taken a stand to be on the side of those who are most at risk.
鈥淭hose of you who know me well, will know that I am not the kind of person who makes compromises to win more games or to win an extra title. I am sorry if I offended anyone鈥檚 feeling with this subject matter 鈥� I have a daughter and I鈥檓 very sensitive to these things, and I always have been.”
De Zerbi said he hoped that, over time, “people will get to know me better and will understand that at that moment I didn鈥檛 meant to take a stance.鈥�
De Zerbi takes over a huge team in English soccer but one that is threatened by relegation, sitting just one point above the bottom three with seven games left.
Tottenham has been an ever-present in England’s top division since 1978.
鈥淚 signed five years of contract because, for me, it is a big challenge,” De Zerbi said, “and I will be the coach of Tottenham next season, no matter what.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a difficult moment for everyone at Tottenham but I think we have the right qualities to come out of this moment.”
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