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 place in the Premier League for another season. The Italian coach made the comments after a dramatic 2-2 draw at home to Brighton, a match that saw Georginio Rutter equalise in the 95th minute and left Spurs still languishing in the bottom three. The late leveller not only denied Tottenham a first league victory of the 2026 calendar year, it also robbed De Zerbi of a maiden win in his tenure at the club. Despite the disappointment, the coach remained upbeat in his post‑match press conference, emphasizing the underlying qualities of his squad and insisting that a five‑game winning streak is within reach.
"I always believe in the qualities of the players," De Zerbi said. "They played a good game. I think we can play better than today, with more quality, more calm, especially when we are in possession.
In this moment we need spirit, attitude and the right mentality – and it’s not over yet." He went on to acknowledge the difficulty of the schedule that lies ahead, which includes trips to London rivals Chelsea and a showdown with Aston Villa, who are chasing a Champions League place. "We have another five games – it’s tough, everyone knows it’s a difficult situation – but we have fifteen points on the table and this team is capable of winning five in a row," he added.
De Zerbi stressed that his optimism should not be mistaken for arrogance. "I’m not arrogant, especially now, but we have enough qualities to fight and to win games consecutively," he explained, urging his players to stay focused and to avoid any hint of negativity. The next fixture, a must‑win against Wolverhampton Wanderers, will be a crucial test. Wolves sit just above the relegation line, and a victory would provide a vital boost.
De Zerbi warned that any player arriving at training with a defeatist mindset would be sent home immediately. "They have to follow me, they must not think, they have to listen," he told the media. "I’m proud of their performance, but they need to be stronger, focused on the Wolves game, and come to training with a smile. Otherwise, they go home.
I have no time for negative people, sad players, or sad assistants." He also highlighted the advantages of working at a big club with a world‑class stadium and the resources that come with Premier League football. "We are lucky because we are working in a big club, a big stadium, we are in the Premier League. We have the right qualities to win the game, so we must stay positive. I don’t like people who cry or think negatively," De Zerby asserted.
Sky Sports analyst Peter Smith echoed the urgency of the situation, noting that small incremental improvements will not be enough. "Tottenham need a huge, transformative boost and time is running out," Smith said. He recalled Xavi Simons’ spectacular curling strike, which had seemed to ignite a turning point, only for Rutter’s last‑gasp equaliser to snuff out the optimism.
The draw left Tottenham a single point away from safety with five games remaining, but the margin for error has narrowed dramatically. The team has failed to win any of its last five Premier League matches when it has taken the lead, and they have yet to secure a victory in the 2026 season. This pattern of falling short at the final hurdle has become a worrying trend. Looking ahead, Spurs must navigate a challenging run‑in that includes an away match at Aston Villa, who are pushing for European competition, a home clash with a resurgent Leeds United, and a potential showdown with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Each of these fixtures carries significant risk, and a slip could see the gap to safety widen further before the Wolves game. De Zerbi has introduced several tactical tweaks since taking over, and he believes the squad possesses latent quality. However, he also acknowledges deep‑seated issues that have hampered the team’s ability to close out games.
Overcoming those ingrained problems in the limited time left will be a massive undertaking. In summary, Roberto De Zerbi remains confident that Tottenham can rally, secure five consecutive wins, and preserve their Premier League status.
His message to the players is clear: maintain belief, stay positive, and approach each match with a winning mentality. The next five weeks will test whether that confidence translates into results, or whether the club will join the list of teams that have slipped into relegation despite a late‑season surge.