Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has made it clear that he does not intend to pile additional pressure on his squad despite the club’s precarious position near the bottom of the Premier League table. Nevertheless, he emphasized that securing a win against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday is crucial for the team’s survival hopes. The London side will head into the next set of fixtures still entrenched in the relegation battle, sitting two points behind 17th‑placed West Ham United and eight points adrift of 16th‑placed Nottingham Forest after a 5‑0 defeat to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Friday night. That heavy loss has left Spurs with a daunting task of clawing back points in the final five games of the season.
Earlier this week, De Zerbi’s side managed to earn their first point under his stewardship by drawing 1‑1 with Brighton & Hove Albion at home, a match in which Tottenham briefly held the lead on two occasions before conceding an equaliser. Despite that small improvement, the team is still searching for its first league victory of the 2025‑26 campaign. With only five matches remaining, De Zerbi warned his players not to lose sight of the reality of their situation. "I don’t want to create extra pressure, but we must be fully aware of where we stand," De Zerbi said in a pre‑match briefing.
"We cannot ignore the table, and we cannot ignore the fact that we need to win. What we have done so far simply isn’t enough. If we can take three points at Wolves, the fight is far from over." He added that there will be four more games after the Wolves encounter, and that Tottenham deserve to win each of them. "I knew Brighton were one of the best sides in the league, and after the Chelsea game everyone understood the level we need to reach.
We played well but were unlucky. This isn’t an easy match," he noted, referring to the upcoming trip to Molineux, where Wolves have already been confirmed as relegated. The manager highlighted the psychological aspect of facing a side with nothing to lose.
"They have nothing to lose now, which makes them dangerous. We have to play our football without letting pressure get into our heads. My job is to prepare the team as best I can, but the players must execute on the pitch. They are talented, they have important qualities, and they can play with clear minds." James Maddison will travel with the squad to Wolves, but De Zerbi confirmed that the England midfielder is still not fit enough to feature.
Maddison, who suffered an ACL rupture during pre‑season, has been on the bench for the recent Brighton draw but has not played a competitive minute since his injury. "Maddison is not available yet.
He feels some pain, especially this week, but it’s not serious. He will travel with us because his presence is important," De Zerbi explained.
"Whether he plays or not doesn’t change the plan, but having him available would be a big boost, both on the field and as a leader in the dressing room." Injuries continue to plague Spurs. Destiny Udogie, Pape Sarr and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario are all doubtful or unavailable, adding to an already long list that includes captain Cristian Romero, Mohamed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski. "Udogie has a problem; I don’t think he can play tomorrow. He had a great first half against Brighton, but the second half was tough," De Zerbi said.
"We have Djed Spence and Souza available, and I hope Udogie will be fit for the Villa Park game. It’s not a major injury, but it does affect us because he is a crucial player." Sarr, according to De Zerbi, suffered a shoulder pain that kept him out of the Brighton match, and he will miss the Wolves trip as well. Vicario, the backup keeper, is also sidelined but is expected to return to training next Monday.
"Sarr felt pain in his shoulder and didn’t work with the group this week. Vicario is not available now, but I hope he can start with us on Monday. Antonin Kinsky is playing really well, and I expect Vicario to come back in top physical condition," the manager added. Beyond the on‑field concerns, Tottenham have announced that the players will wear shirts emblazoned with the slogan "Spurs against Racism" for the crucial Wolves fixture.
The 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 accounts responsible have been suspended or banned. De Zerbi expressed his frustration at the abuse aimed at Danso, praising the defender’s performance despite the negative comments.
"I was very annoyed by the abuse towards Kevin. He played a fantastic game, and one mistake does not define him. His behaviour on the pitch was exemplary, and he will be with us next season because he is a good guy and a valuable member of the squad," De Zerbi said during his press conference. The upcoming match against Wolves will be broadcast live, and highlights will be available on the Sky Sports app from 5.15 pm on Saturday.
Fans are also encouraged to participate in the Super 6 competition for a chance to win £250,000, with free entry available. In summary, De Zerbi is walking a fine line between protecting his players from excessive anxiety and instilling a sense of urgency.
The Spurs must convert the draw against Brighton into a win at Wolves to keep their survival hopes alive. With key players missing, the manager will rely on squad depth, tactical discipline, and a united front against both on‑field opponents and off‑field challenges such as racism.
The next five games will determine whether Tottenham can escape the relegation zone or face the drop, and the Wolves clash is the first decisive step on that path.