Roberto De Zerbi is cooking up an even better relationship with his players by inviting them to his home for dinner.
The Italian is hoping to savour a third Premier League win in four against Everton at the Amex today and thinks that having good relations with his players is just as important as tactics.
Pervis Estupinan and Ansu Fati were the latest players to taste De Zerbi’s hospitality on Wednesday before they settled down with the head coach and his staff to watch Napoli v Barcelona in the Champions League.
“Ansu and Pervis Estupinan have both been to my home this week,” he said. “Ansu is a great guy and Pervis knows he has to give something more but we are here to help the young players, especially if these young players have a big talent like them.”
MA+ members & STH only - Log-in required
Log-in required
Rather than giving them a pizza the action, De Zerbi revealed he served another of Italy’s favourite dishes to his guests.
“I rotate the players who come round for dinner, and we had pasta,” he added. “It's a habit I started at Sassuolo because in all work - in all jobs - if you can find a better relationship with the people you work with it can help you to know the player better on the pitch but also off the pitch.
"And then the players are like my children. They are young guys. In football we are used to demanding things every day, but sometimes it is right to understand if they need something more, something different, and I believe these relationships [with my players] are more than just tactical."