Tottenham Hotspur’s manager, Roberto De Zerbi, is adamant that his side still has the capacity to win all five of their remaining league fixtures and thereby guarantee their Premier League status. The latest setback – a 2‑2 draw against Brighton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – left the club perched in the bottom three, with a single point separating them from safety and only five games left on the calendar. The match against Brighton was a classic drama of stoppage‑time heartache. Georginio Rutter’s 95th‑minute equaliser snatched a point from Tottenham, denying them their first league victory of the 2026 calendar year and also postponing De Zerbi’s maiden win in charge.
Former Spurs defender Michael Dawson summed up the feeling on Sky Sports, saying the result "felt like a defeat" even though it was technically a draw. Despite the bleakness of the situation – a run‑in that includes daunting away trips to Chelsea and Aston Villa, both of whom are pushing for European places – De Zerbi insists that his squad possesses the quality, temperament and belief required to string together five consecutive victories. Speaking at the post‑match press conference, the Italian coach emphasized his faith in the players: "I always believe in the qualities of the players.
They played a good game. I think we can play better than today, with more quality, more calm, especially when we are in ball possession.
But in this moment we need this spirit, this attitude, this mentality, and it's not finished yet." He went on to outline the mathematics of the task: "We have another five games – it's tough, every one of us knows it's a tough moment, it's a difficult situation – but we have another five games, 15 points, and this team is able to win five games in a row." De Zerbi added that while confidence is essential, arrogance must be avoided. "Not to be arrogant, because I'm not arrogant, especially now, but we have enough qualities to fight and to win games in a row," he said. The next fixture – a must‑win clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers, who are already flirting with relegation – will be a litmus test for De Zerbi’s philosophy. He made it clear that any player arriving at training with a negative mindset will not be tolerated: "If you come to the training ground on Monday afternoon with a smile, otherwise you go home immediately.
I have no time for negative people, sad players or sad assistants. No." De Zerbi’s message to his squad was unequivocal: follow his instructions, stay focused, and keep a positive outlook. "We are lucky because we are working in a big club, a big stadium, we are working in the Premier League.
We have the right qualities to win the game, so we have to be positive, because I don't like the people who cry, who think in a negative way," he asserted. Sky Sports analyst Peter Smith echoed the urgency of the situation, warning that Tottenham cannot afford incremental progress at this stage.
"This is not the moment for small steps of progress and signs of encouragement. Tottenham are desperate for a huge, transformative boost.
And time is running out," he said. Smith highlighted Xavi Simons’ spectacular curling strike as a potential turning point, but noted that Rutter’s last‑minute equaliser shattered that momentum, leaving the Spurs players visibly dejected on the pitch. From a broader perspective, the statistics are unflattering. Tottenham have failed to win any of their last five Premier League matches when they have taken the lead, and they have not secured a league victory at all in 2026.
The inability to close out games has become a defining characteristic of the current squad, and the pressure is mounting as the club looks ahead to a schedule that includes a trip to an Aston Villa side chasing a Champions League berth, a home game against an in‑form Leeds United, and a potentially decisive showdown with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. De Zerbi does have some positives to point to. He has introduced a more proactive style of play, and several younger players have shown flashes of promise.
The manager believes that the existing talent pool can rise to the occasion, but he also acknowledges deep‑seated issues within the squad that have hampered consistency for years. Overcoming those ingrained problems in the limited time remaining is a monumental task.
In practical terms, the next five games represent a total of 15 points – exactly the amount needed to leap out of the relegation zone if other results go their way. The Wolves match is the first hurdle; a win would lift Spurs out of the bottom three and inject much‑needed confidence. After that, a victory at Villa Park would be a statement, followed by a must‑win against Leeds at home. The final two fixtures – against Chelsea and a fellow relegation‑battler – would then become either a safety net or a decisive finish, depending on how the earlier games unfold.
De Zerbi’s challenge is not only tactical but also psychological. He must keep his players mentally resilient, maintain belief, and prevent the negativity that often seeps in during a relegation battle. By demanding positivity, discipline, and a smile on the training ground, he hopes to foster an environment where the team can focus on one match at a time, execute their game plan, and ultimately secure the points required to stay up.
Whether Tottenham can translate this optimism into five straight wins remains to be seen, but the manager’s conviction, combined with the players’ determination, will be the key factors as the club fights for its Premier League future.