Tottenham's most significant problems were self-identified by Roberto De Zerbi in his first match as manager. Prior to traveling to Sunderland, Spurs had dropped into the bottom three, and their performance in defeat did nothing to bolster confidence in their ability to climb out of it. De Zerbi's appointment as one of the highest-paid head coaches in the division at this point in an already disastrous campaign was a high-risk gamble.
Some might argue that keeping Igor Tudor on would have been even riskier. However, regardless of who the manager is - De Zerbi is Spurs' fourth in the last 12 months - the same issues persist. Tottenham lacks a distinct style of play, which might have been part of De Zerbi's appeal. He offers a philosophy and a unique approach to the game, as seen during his time at Brighton, where he achieved a high level of performance.
The problem is that the current Spurs team is not capable of executing De Zerbi's plans, as evident in their match against Sunderland. Nordi Mukiele's heavily deflected effort sealed the fate of a lackluster performance, and now the narrative has shifted to analyzing the increasing probability of relegation. According to Opta, after Leeds beat Manchester United on Monday, Tottenham's chances of demotion have surged to 49.5 percent. One point from a possible 24 is a dire situation.
Spurs' 14-match winless run in the Premier League is their worst since 1935, making them increasingly compelling contenders for relegation. Perhaps, as Jamie Carragher hypothesized on Super Sunday, they have a more convincing case than the teams around them, given their recent form and confidence levels.
De Zerbi explained in his first press conference that he had little time to implement his tactical ideas before facing Sunderland, prioritizing character, spirit, and courage to play. Except for a bright opening 10 minutes, Spurs lacked all three. The theory behind De Zerbi's setup is sound, even if the execution was not.
He packed the central areas with energetic players like Conor Gallagher and Lucas Bergvall, but they failed to dominate the ball and lost the battle. Granit Xhaka, Noah Sadiki, and Habib Diarra formed a more accomplished trio, with Xhaka controlling the tempo and generating the most passes into the final third.
Sunderland's goalkeeper, Robin Roefs, played more final-third passes than all three of Tottenham's midfielders. Out of possession, the hosts were superior, winning more tackles and making more interceptions.
Spurs managed seven shots on target, but only one was deemed a big chance, and that was missed by Dominic Solanke. Full-back Pedro Porro was the best hope for an open-play threat, which does not reflect well on Spurs' attacking contingent. De Zerbi is an ideas man, but he lacks fit creators. One must question the decision to leave Xavi Simons on the bench until the final six minutes; is that enough time to impact a game that Spurs had been trailing since the hour mark?
This six-game gauntlet will be decided by such decisions, especially as Spurs will now navigate the final stretch without the leadership of injured captain Cristian Romero. By the time Brighton visits the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, De Zerbi will have had two weeks to get to grips with his squad. He will not have the luxury of lavish means to beat the side he guided to sixth place in 2022/23, but there are tangible improvements to be made. Basics must be respected.
Spurs have to start on the front foot to face this crisis head-on. They are winless in each of their last 32 Premier League games after going behind, and they have only spent 18.3 percent of games in winning positions all season. It has been nearly four months since they last tasted victory in the league, long enough to have forgotten what that feels like or how it is achieved.
Whatever the variables, Tottenham must find a way to win this weekend. They must draw from the well of relegation fear with greater effectiveness, especially in moments of misfortune.
Games simply escape Tottenham too easily after they suffer a setback, and it was no surprise to see Mukiele's effort settle Sunday's scrappy contest. That is how fragile Spurs are. There is no time for despondence, though. Survival scraps do not entertain sentiment.
Theoretically, this is a team of good players; now it is up to De Zerbi to get them performing with the strength of character to prove it.