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If Roberto De Zerbi hadn’t already grasped the scale of the challenge facing him, Saturday’s trip to the Stadium of Light made it unmistakably clear.

The newly appointed Tottenham Hotspur head coach watched his team suffer a 1-0 defeat to Sunderland, leaving the North London side two points adrift inside the Premier League relegation zone.

Adding to his woes, captain and key defender Cristian Romero was forced off the pitch with a season-ending injury.

Despite the difficult circumstances, De Zerbi reportedly has several plans in mind to turn things around, and they go beyond mere tactical adjustments.

According to The Telegraph, the Italian coach arranged a “lavish team-bonding meal” at a high-end restaurant for his squad.

On Wednesday night, Spurs players and staff gathered at Bacchanalia in Mayfair, where main dishes can cost up to £130.

The dinner was aimed at “strengthening the connection” among players and “relieving the tension” surrounding their relegation battle.

It is understood that De Zerbi personally organised the evening, believing that Tottenham’s mental resilience has been a major issue contributing to their struggles this season.

This approach is not entirely new. Former interim boss Igor Tudor had also taken the squad out for a meal shortly after succeeding Thomas Frank.

However, Tudor’s attempt at unity failed to yield results, as the Croatian lasted just 44 days and seven matches in charge.

De Zerbi will now be hoping that his choice of venue helps to rejuvenate morale within the camp, especially with a crucial fixture against his former club Brighton & Hove Albion scheduled for Saturday.

Following that, Spurs will travel to face bottom-placed Wolves before meeting Aston Villa, Leeds United, Chelsea, and Everton in their closing matches of the season.

By the conclusion of that challenging run, De Zerbi will have a clear picture of whether he will be managing a Premier League team or preparing for life in the Championship next season.