Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has been brutally honest about the importance of the upcoming clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers as his side fights to avoid sharing the same relegation destiny. The Spurs find themselves entrenched in the bottom tier of the Premier League table, sitting two points behind 17th‑placed West Ham United and eight points adrift of 16th‑placed Nottingham Forest after a crushing 5-0 defeat to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Friday night. Although De Zerbi secured his first point in charge with a home draw against Brighton, a game in which Tottenham twice held the lead, the club has yet to register a league victory in the 2026 season.
With only five matches remaining, the Italian coach warned that his players must remain aware of the precarious position they occupy. "I don't want to add extra pressure, but we must understand the reality of the situation," De Zerby said. "We cannot ignore the table, we cannot forget that we need to win.
What we have done so far is simply not enough. If we win at Wolves, the battle is not over, but it will be a massive step forward." He went on to stress that there are still four games left and that Spurs deserve to claim points.
"Brighton were one of the strongest sides in the league. After Chelsea, everyone realised the challenge. We played well but were unlucky.
It is not an easy game," he added, referring to the trip to Molineux, where Wolves are already confirmed relegated. The manager highlighted the difficulty of facing a side with nothing to lose. "The last three home games they have drawn with Arsenal and beaten both Aston Villa and Liverpool. They are a tough opponent because they have nothing to lose.
We have to play our football without feeling too much pressure. My job is to prepare the team as best as possible and then let the players express themselves on the pitch. They are talented, they have important qualities, and they can play with clear heads." James Maddison will travel to Wolverhampton with his teammates, but De Zerbi confirmed that the England midfielder is still not fit to feature. Maddison, who made a long‑awaited return to the matchday squad by being named on the bench for the Brighton draw, has not played a competitive match for Spurs since pre‑season, when he suffered an ACL rupture.
The 29‑year‑old has also been absent from Premier League action for over a year. When asked about Maddison, De Zerbi explained: "He is still feeling some pain, especially this week, but it is not a serious problem. He will travel with us tomorrow because he is important to the group. Whether he plays or not does not change the plan, but it would be great if he could be on the field.
He is a leader, a positive influence in the dressing room, and his presence lifts the morale of his teammates." In addition to Maddison, Spurs will be missing several other key players due to injuries. Destiny Udogie, Pape Sarr and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario have all been ruled out for the Wolves game, adding to an already extensive injury list that includes captain Cristian Romero, Mohamed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski. "Destiny has a problem," De Zerbi said. "I think he cannot play tomorrow.
He had a great first half and a solid second half against Brighton, but I doubt he will be available for the Wolves match. We have Djed Spence and Souza to cover, and I hope Udogie will be fit for the Villa Park fixture.
It is not a major injury, but it can happen. He is a crucial player for us." He added that Sarr will also miss the trip, citing shoulder pain as the reason for his absence. "He did not train with the group this week, so he is unavailable. Vicario is also out, but I expect him to return to training on Monday in good physical condition.
Antonin Kinský has been playing very well, and I hope Vicario can rejoin us soon." Tottenham have announced that the players will wear shirts bearing the slogan "Spurs against Racism" for the high‑stakes encounter at Wolves. The decision follows an incident of online racist abuse directed at Kevin Danso after the Brighton draw. The club issued a statement making clear that any form of racial abuse will be met with the strongest possible action, including reporting to the Metropolitan Police and working with platforms to remove offending accounts. Speaking about the incident, De Zerbi expressed his frustration: "I was very upset by the abuse aimed at Kevin.
He played a fantastic game. One mistake on the pitch does not justify such behaviour.
He will be with us next season because he is a good person and we are lucky to have him." Beyond the immediate tactical and personnel concerns, De Zerbi emphasized the broader context of Tottenham's season. The club's recent form has been a mix of narrow draws and heavy defeats, leaving the fans and the board anxious for a turnaround.
The manager highlighted the need for consistency, defensive solidity, and a clear attacking identity to climb out of the relegation zone. He also touched on the psychological aspect of the fight. "We need to keep belief alive," he said. "The players must understand that every point matters, and that we have to fight for every ball, every tackle, every chance.
The pressure is there, but we will use it as motivation rather than a burden." The upcoming fixture against Wolves represents a pivotal moment in Tottenham's campaign. A victory would not only close the gap to safety but also inject much‑needed confidence into a squad that has struggled to find rhythm under De Zerbi's leadership. Conversely, a loss could deepen the crisis and make the remaining fixtures even more daunting.
Fans can watch the live action on the Sky Sports app from 5:15 pm on Saturday, and the club encourages supporters to stand together against racism, reinforcing the message that discrimination has no place in football. In summary, De Zerbi is urging his players to stay grounded, respect the reality of the league table, and seize the opportunity at Wolves to secure three points.
While injuries continue to test the depth of the squad, the manager believes that the core group possesses the quality and mental strength to rise to the occasion. The match will be a true test of Tottenham's resolve, and a win could be the catalyst needed to steer the club away from the relegation battle and back toward a more stable future.