Tottenham Hotspur's manager, Roberto De Zerbi, has been unequivocal about the importance of the upcoming clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers, emphasizing that his squad must secure a victory to keep their survival hopes alive. The North London club finds itself entrenched in the relegation battle, sitting just 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. Despite a hard‑fought home draw against Brighton, where Spurs twice held the lead before settling for a point, they have yet to notch a league win in the 2026 campaign.
With only five fixtures remaining, De Zerbi warned his players not to lose sight of the precarious situation. "I don't want to add extra pressure, but we must be fully aware of where we stand," he said. "We cannot ignore the table or the necessity of winning. What we have done so far simply isn't enough.
If we manage to beat Wolves, the battle is not over, but it will be a massive step forward." He added that there are still four games left and that the team deserves to claim victories. De Zerbi praised Brighton as one of the league's strongest sides, noting that after the match against Chelsea, everyone understood the quality of the opposition.
"We played well, but we were unlucky," he reflected. Turning his attention to Wolves, he described the fixture as challenging: "It's not an easy game," he remarked, acknowledging that Wolves have already been relegated and therefore have nothing to lose. "We have to play our football without being weighed down by too much pressure." The manager explained his role as preparing the squad as thoroughly as possible while allowing the players to express themselves on the pitch. "These are very talented individuals with important qualities.
They can perform without overthinking the situation," De Zerbi said, underscoring his belief in the squad's mental resilience. Injury concerns continue to plague Tottenham. James Maddison, who recently returned to the matchday squad and was named on the bench for the Brighton game, is still not fully fit.
The England midfielder suffered an ACL tear during pre‑season and has not featured in a Premier League match for a year. De Zerbi confirmed that Maddison will travel to Wolverhampton but remains uncertain about his playing status. "He felt pain this week, but it is not serious.
He will be with us tomorrow because his presence is important," the manager explained. "Whether he plays or not, his leadership and positive attitude are valuable for the dressing room." Other absentees include Destiny Udogie, Pape Sarr and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, all of whom have joined a growing list of injured players that feature captain Cristian Romero, Mohamed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski. De Zerbi provided updates on each: "Udogie had a problem after a strong first half against Brighton, so I doubt he will be available tomorrow.
We have Djed Spence and Souza as options, and I hope Udogie returns for the Villa Park game. It's not a major injury, but it does affect us." Regarding Sarr, the manager said, "He felt shoulder pain and hasn't trained with the group this week, so he will miss the Wolves trip." Vicario, meanwhile, is expected to rejoin the squad on Monday after a short spell on the sidelines. Beyond the on‑field matters, Tottenham have taken a firm stand against racism. The club announced that players will wear shirts emblazoned with the slogan "Spurs against Racism" for the Wolves fixture, a response to the online abuse suffered by Kevin Danso after the Brighton draw.
Spurs have reported the hateful content to the Metropolitan Police, resulting in the removal and banning of several accounts. De Zerbi expressed his frustration at the incident, saying, "I was very annoyed by the abuse directed at Kevin.
He played a fantastic game, and a single mistake does not justify such behaviour. He will be with us next season; he's a good person and a valuable member of the squad." The upcoming match will be broadcast live, with highlights available on the Sky Sports app from 5.15 pm on Saturday. Fans can also participate in the Super 6 competition for a chance to win £250,000, with free entry available.
As the deadline approaches, Tottenham's focus remains sharply on securing the three points needed to climb out of the relegation zone, while De Zerbi strives to balance the urgency of the situation with the need to protect his players from overwhelming pressure. The Wolves encounter represents a pivotal moment in Tottenham's season, and the outcome will significantly influence the club's fight for Premier League survival.