Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi was unequivocal about the importance of Saturday's encounter with Wolverhampton Wanderers as his side continues to fight against the looming threat of relegation. After a 5-0 defeat to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Friday night, Spurs find themselves entrenched in the bottom of the Premier League table, sitting two points behind 17th‑placed West Ham United and eight points adrift of 16th‑placed Nottingham Forest. The recent draw at home against Brighton, in which Tottenham managed to lead twice before settling for a single point, marked the first point earned under De Zerby’s tenure. However, the club has yet to secure its first league victory of the 2026 season.
With only five matches remaining, De Zerby stressed that his players must remain fully aware of the precarious situation they are in. "I don't want to add extra pressure, but we must recognise where we stand," the Italian coach said. "We cannot ignore the table or the fact that we need to win.
What we have done so far simply hasn't been enough. If we can take three points at Wolves, the battle isn’t over yet." He went on to underline the significance of the upcoming four‑game stretch, noting that Spurs deserve to win and that the Brighton game demonstrated both their potential and their misfortune. "Brighton are one of the strongest sides in the league.
After Chelsea, everyone understood the level we were up against. We played well but were unlucky," De Zerby reflected. Regarding the Wolves fixture, De Zerby acknowledged the difficulty of facing a side that has already been relegated. "It’s not an easy match," he said.
"Wolves have nothing to lose, which makes them dangerous. We have to play our game without letting pressure get to us." The manager emphasized his role in preparing the team: "My job is to set us up as best as possible and then let the players express themselves on the pitch.
They are talented, they have the right qualities, and they can perform without overthinking." James Maddison will travel to Molineux with his teammates, but De Zerby confirmed that the England midfielder is still not fit to play. Maddison, who suffered an ACL injury during pre‑season, has not featured for Tottenham in a Premier League match for a year. De Zerby explained, "Maddison still feels some pain, especially this week, but it’s not a serious issue. He will be with us tomorrow because his presence is important, whether he plays or not.
His leadership and positive attitude are valuable for the squad." Injury concerns continue to plague the team. Destiny Udogie, Pape Sarr and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario are all sidelined, adding to a long list that already includes captain Cristian Romero, Mohamed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski. De Zerby gave an update on each player: "Udogie had a problem after the first half against Brighton, so I don’t think he will be available tomorrow. He is a crucial player for us, and we hope he will be fit for the Villa Park game." He added that Sarr will miss the Wolves trip due to shoulder pain, and Vicario will also be unavailable, though the goalkeeper is expected to rejoin the group on Monday.
"We have Djed Spence and Souza available, and Antonin Kinsky is playing very well. I hope Vicario returns in top physical condition," De Zerby said.
Beyond the on‑field challenges, Tottenham have announced that the squad will wear shirts bearing the slogan "Spurs against Racism" for the Wolves match. This decision follows an incident in which Kevin Danso was subjected to online racist abuse after the Brighton draw.
The club issued a statement condemning such behaviour, noting that all abusive content has been reported to the Metropolitan Police and that offending accounts have been removed and banned. De Zerby expressed his frustration at the abuse directed at Danso, saying, "I was very annoyed by the abuse aimed at Kevin.
He played a fantastic game. One mistake does not define a player; it’s the conduct on the pitch that matters. He will be with us next season because he is a good person and we are lucky to have him." Tottenham fans can watch highlights of the Wolves‑Spurs clash on the Sky Sports app from 5:15 pm on Saturday, and the club is also promoting a Super 6 competition with a £250,000 prize for participants.
In summary, De Zerby’s message to his squad is clear: stay grounded, remember the stakes, and seize the opportunity at Wolves to collect vital points. With the relegation battle tightening and several key players missing, the upcoming fixtures will test the depth, resilience, and mental strength of the Tottenham side as they strive to secure their Premier League status for another season.