Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi expressed satisfaction with his side's Premier League victory over Coventry on Monday, while conceding that the performance did not reach the heights of some earlier outings this season.

Speaking to the Premier League website, De Zerbi pointed to Spurs' display at Old Trafford as an example of a more polished showing, but stressed that grinding out a result against Coventry carried its own significance.

"We are very happy for the result. If I'm honest, I think we played better in other games, for example at Old Trafford. It was important to get this result. When you play a team like Coventry, you can't see the difficult situation, but if you make a mistake, then you see a counterattack," De Zerbi said.

Maddison's moment of magic

The Tottenham boss singled out James Maddison for particular praise, calling the midfielder's goal a standout moment and underlining just how much the player means to the team.

"Maddison scored a great goal and that is important; he is a different player," De Zerbi added.

Maddison's ability to produce the decisive moment in a tightly contested fixture demonstrated the kind of individual quality De Zerbi values in his squad.

Dressing room celebrations for Kulusevski

De Zerbi also revealed that Dejan Kulusevski received a warm reception from his teammates in the dressing room after the final whistle — a moment the manager described as a lift for both player and club alike.

"We celebrated Kulusevski in the dressing room at the end of the game. It is a great thing for us and the player," he said.

The victory keeps Tottenham building momentum as De Zerbi continues to stamp his identity on the squad this season.