Roberto De Zerbi, the head coach of Tottenham Hotspur, has made it clear that he does not intend to pile additional pressure on his players despite the club’s precarious position near the bottom of the Premier League table. At the same time, he emphasized that a win against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday is crucial for the team’s survival hopes. Tottenham are currently entrenched in the relegation battle, sitting two points behind West Ham United, who occupy the 17th spot, and eight points adrift of 16th‑placed Nottingham Forest. The Spurs’ recent 5-0 defeat of Sunderland at the Stadium of Light did little to lift them out of the danger zone, and with only five matches left in the season, every point has become vital.
Under De Zerbi’s stewardship, Tottenham have managed just a single point from a home draw with Brighton & Hove Albion, a game in which they led twice before ultimately settling for a stalemate. That result means the club has yet to register its first league victory of the 2025‑26 campaign.
The manager warned his squad not to lose sight of the reality they face. "I don’t want to add pressure, but we have to be fully aware of where we stand," De Zerbi said. "We cannot ignore the table, and we must remember that winning is non‑negotiable." He added that the team’s performances to date have been insufficient. "If we can secure three points at Wolves, the season will not be over for us," he continued.
"There are still four games left, and we deserve to win them." De Zerbi praised Brighton as one of the league’s strongest sides and acknowledged that Tottenham played well but were unlucky. He described the upcoming match at the Molineux Stadium as challenging, noting that Wolves are already relegated and therefore have nothing to lose, which could make them dangerous opponents. "It’s a tough game because they have nothing to lose. We have to play without overthinking and without excessive pressure," he explained.
"My job is to prepare the team as best as possible and then let the football speak for itself. These players have quality and can perform when their minds are clear." James Maddison will travel with the squad to Wolverhampton, but De Zerbi confirmed that the England midfielder is still not fully fit to start matches. Maddison, who suffered an ACL injury during pre‑season, made his first appearance on the bench for the Brighton draw but has not played a competitive minute since that injury. The manager said: "Maddison is still feeling some pain, especially this week, but it’s not serious.
He will be with us on the day because his presence is important. Whether he plays or not is secondary; his leadership and positivity are valuable for the dressing room." Tottenham will also be missing several other key players due to injuries. Destiny Udogie, Pape Sarr, and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario are all sidelined, adding to a long list that already includes captain Cristian Romero, Mohamed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski.
De Zerbi gave brief updates on each: "Udogie had a problem after the first half against Brighton; I don’t think he will be fit tomorrow, but we have Djed Spence and Souza available. I hope he recovers for the Villa Park match," the coach said. "Sarr injured his shoulder and has not trained with the group this week, so he will miss the Wolves trip.
Vicario is also unavailable, but I expect him to return to training on Monday. Antonin Kinsky is in good form, and I hope Vicario comes back fully fit," De Zerbi added.
In addition to the on‑field concerns, Tottenham have announced that the players will wear shirts bearing the slogan "Spurs against Racism" for the Wolves fixture. This decision follows an incident of online racist abuse directed at defender Kevin Danso after the Brighton draw.
The club issued a statement condemning the abuse, confirming that all offending content has been reported to the Metropolitan Police and that the responsible accounts have been removed or banned. Speaking about Danso’s situation, De Zerbi expressed his frustration: "I was very annoyed by the abuse aimed at Kevin.
He played a fantastic game, and a single mistake does not define a player. His character and professionalism are what matter." The manager also reiterated his belief that Danso will remain with Tottenham next season, describing him as a good person and an important member of the squad. Beyond the immediate match, Tottenham fans can look forward to watching highlights of the Wolves‑Spurs clash on the Sky Sports app from 5.15 pm on Saturday. The club also encourages supporters to engage with its anti‑racism campaign and to participate in the Super 6 competition, which offers a chance to win £250,000.
In summary, De Zerbi’s message to his players is a delicate balance: avoid unnecessary pressure while acknowledging the stark reality that points are needed now more than ever. A victory at Wolverhampton could provide a much‑needed lift in morale and points, keeping Tottenham’s hopes of staying in the Premier League alive as the season reaches its final, decisive weeks.