Villa 1-2 Spurs | Every word of Roberto De Zerbi's post-match press conference

Here's what he had to say...

What made you most proud about that performance?

Roberto: "I'm very happy, very pleased for the performance. We won a great game against a great Aston Villa. Okay, they have to play on Thursday, a very important game for them but, anyway, it's always very tough playing against Emery, against this Villa and in this stadium, a very nice stadium, and for that I'm really pleased. I'm really pleased for the performance with the ball, without the ball. Without the ball we showed a great courage and with the ball, great qualities. I'm happy for this type of performance, more than three points, because three points, okay we are one point more than West Ham, but the most important thing tonight, is to play a great game, to believe more and more in ourselves, to believe in our qualities. Then we have to keep the focus on the improvement we have to do, because we have to play like the first half for 90 minutes. I didn't like the goal we conceded, but there are a lot of positive things today."

When you arrived, there was a feeling that Spurs' biggest problem was a lack of confidence, a squad lacking in confidence. Can you describe the transformation you've seen in that regard?

Roberto: "Listen, I'm honest. I have one face. If I say Kolo Muani, Gallagher, Palhinha and all our players are great level, big level, it's because I feel. I don't want to sell something if I don't believe in my words. I'm lucky because I'm working with very good players, good people and very good players. My work, my job is just to transfer the confidence, to believe in themselves and to try to be stronger than the defeat, stronger that the position of the table, stronger than the words all of you normally say about Tottenham - and to show passion, to show value, humility, pride."

What did you make of the midfield performance - Palhinha, Bentancur, Gallagher?

Roberto: "They played with the ball and without the ball, an amazing game. Xavi Simons and Solanke, both are top players for us, but Kolo Muani is different as a characteristic, but not as a quality. You're not watching the best Kolo Muani, but Kolo Muani is a top player. Mathys Tel is very young, but he has amazing potential as a player. Richarlison is playing in the Brazilian national team. I'm lucky because I have a lot of players. Now, I think the injuries are finished, because otherwise it's a big problem, but I'm lucky and for that I'm not surprised. I said two days ago in a press conference, if we win in Villa Park it's not a miracle. It was not a miracle."

Do you feel confidence is building in the group?

Roberto: "Yes, but the crucial thing now is to keep in our heads what was the situation before the Wolverhampton game. This is the most important memory to keep in our heads because in football it's very easy to change. If you lose you are stupid, if you win you are a champion. No, we have to find the balance. We have to work this week, because Leeds is another very tough game and to remember in ourselves what we have done in the past, in the last month."

Is Rodrigo Bentancur okay?

Roberto: "Yes, Bentancur was just tired."

You mentioned the word passion. I noticed that every time a player won a tackle they were celebrating...

Roberto: "Yeah, I love Palhinha..."

Is that something you've asked for, you've demanded?

Roberto: "No, no, they have not to follow me in this but if I saw one player like passionate, I become crazy."

Were you surprised that Villa made so many changes? Any surprise at that?

Roberto: "No, they have to play one historic game on Thursday. They lost three days ago and I think they need two or three points, maybe less, to achieve another very important target. I think in football we love speaking about the project. Yes, in football, one of the not too many projects is like Aston Villa. In the last four years they have done school in terms of project, because I remember the first game, the beginning of Emery in Aston Villa, was at the bottom of the table and now they became one of the best teams in the Premier League. They deserve everything. In this stadium, I lost two games but when I have played against Aston Villa with Emery it has been all the time a very, very tough game, very difficult to find the line-pass to everything."

You said you wanted to get the 'Chelsea version' of Conor Gallagher back. Do you feel you've got it?

Roberto: "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. Great player, great passion, great qualities. Great player."

Kevin Danso has given you everything...

Roberto: "He is playing very well. I think with the ball he can play better and he knows what I mean. Maybe he is not used to playing a lot of balls and to take control of the game but he is a great guy for sure. I have no doubt he will improve quickly."

Can I just check on Micky van de Ven, it looked like he maybe rolled his ankle late on?

Roberto: "No, no, no. He's okay."

Does it continue to surprise you that this team, this squad of players, is struggling against relegation rather than challenging for the Champions League places?

Roberto: "Yes, I am surprised but you have to consider the league we are playing in. The Premier League is tough. If you suffer so many injuries, if you don't find a win for a long time, if you lose the confidence in yourself, game by game it becomes worse and worse. You have to stop. You have to find the right momentum to restart. Also Nottingham Forest is an important team, important club and important players and they suffered until one month ago. They were in a very bad situation and in the Premier League, that can happen."