Tottenham Hotspur’s manager, Roberto De Zerbi, was blunt about the importance of Saturday’s clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers as his side continues to fight to avoid the same fate as last season’s relegated clubs. The Spurs are entrenched in the Premier League’s lower reaches, 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’s tenure has already produced a point – a hard‑fought home draw against Brighton in which Spurs led twice before finally settling for a stalemate – the team has yet to register its first league victory of the 2026 campaign. With only five fixtures remaining, the Italian coach stressed that his players must stay aware of the precarious situation they find themselves in. "I don’t want to add extra pressure, but we have to understand the reality," De Zerbi told reporters.
"We cannot ignore the table, we cannot ignore the fact that we need wins. What we have done so far simply isn’t enough.
If we can take three points at Wolves, the battle won’t be over, but it will be a massive step forward." He went on to outline the upcoming schedule: "There are four games left. We deserve to win them. I knew Brighton were one of the strongest sides in the league – after Chelsea, everyone recognised that. We played well but were unlucky." Regarding the Wolves encounter, De Zerbi acknowledged the difficulty of facing a side already condemned to relegation.
"It’s not an easy game," he said. "Wolves have nothing to lose, which makes them dangerous.
We have to play our football without feeling the weight of the occasion too much. My job is to prepare the team as best I can, then let them express themselves on the pitch. These are quality players, they have the attributes, and they can keep their heads clear." James Maddison will travel to Molineux with his teammates, but the England midfielder is still not match‑fit, De Zerbi confirmed. Maddison, who suffered an ACL rupture during pre‑season, was named on the bench for the Brighton draw, marking his first inclusion since the injury.
He has not featured in a Premier League game for a year. When asked about Maddison’s status, the manager replied, "Maddison is still feeling some pain, especially this week, but it’s not a serious issue.
He’ll travel with us tomorrow because his presence is important. Whether he plays or not is secondary – it would be great if he could, but his leadership and positivity in the dressing room are valuable regardless. I want to surround the squad with good, positive people, and he provides that for his teammates." Spurs will be missing several key figures due to injury, including Destiny Udogie, Pape Sarr and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, adding to a long list that already features captain Cristian Romero, Mohamed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski. De Zerbi explained each absence: "Udogie has a problem – I don’t think he’ll be fit for tomorrow.
He played a great first half against Brighton, but the second half was tougher. We have Djed Spence and Souza available, and I hope Udogie can return for the Villa Park match. It’s not a critical injury, but it does affect us because he’s a crucial player." He added that Sarr will also miss the Wolves trip due to shoulder pain, and Vicario will be unavailable until at least next Monday. "Sarr hasn’t trained with the group this week because of his shoulder, so he can’t travel.
Vicario is out as well, but I expect him back on Monday in good condition. Antonin Kinsky has been playing really well, and I hope Vicario can rejoin us at full fitness because he’s another important piece of our puzzle." In a show of solidarity against discrimination, Tottenham announced that the players will wear shirts bearing the slogan "Spurs against Racism" for the crucial fixture at Wolves. The decision follows an incident in which Kevin Danso was subjected to online racist abuse 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.
Speaking about the incident, De Zerbi expressed his frustration: "I was very annoyed by the abuse directed 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’s a good guy, and we’re lucky to have him." Tottenham fans can watch the Wolves‑Spurs encounter live via the Sky Sports app, with highlights available from 5.15 pm on Saturday. The club also encouraged supporters to participate in a Super 6 competition for a chance to win £250,000, with free entry available. Overall, De Zerbi’s message is clear: while he does not wish to burden his squad with excessive pressure, the reality of the relegation battle demands focus, resilience, and a win at Wolverhampton.
The next few weeks will determine whether the Spurs can turn their fortunes around and secure their place in the Premier League for another season.