Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has been unequivocal about the importance of the upcoming clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers, emphasizing that his side must secure a win as they continue to fight against relegation. The Spurs find themselves entrenched in the Premier League’s lower tier, 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 from a home draw against Brighton—where Spurs led twice before settling for a stalemate—the club is still searching for its first league victory of the 2026 campaign. With only five matches remaining, the manager warned his players not to lose sight of the precarious situation they are in. "I don't want to add extra pressure, but we must be fully aware of where we stand," De Zerby said in the pre‑match press conference. "We cannot ignore the table, we cannot ignore the fact that we need to win.
What we have done so far simply isn’t enough. If we manage to take three points at Wolves, the battle isn’t over, but it will be a massive step forward." He went on to outline the remaining fixtures, noting that there are four games left after the Wolves encounter. "We deserve to win games," De Zerby added. "Brighton proved themselves to be one of the strongest sides in the league; after Chelsea, everyone understood the quality they possess.
We played well but were unlucky." Speaking about the Wolves match, De Zerby described it as "not an easy game" despite the fact that Wolverhampton have already been relegated. "The last three home games for Wolves have been a draw with Arsenal and victories over Aston Villa and Liverpool. They have nothing to lose, which makes them dangerous. We have to play our football without feeling crushed by pressure." The manager highlighted his role in preparing the squad: "My job is to set up the team in the best possible way and then let the players express themselves on the pitch.
These are very talented individuals with important qualities, and they can perform when their minds are clear." James Maddison will travel to Molineux with his teammates, but De Zerby confirmed that the England midfielder is still not fully fit to feature. Maddison returned to the matchday squad as a substitute for the Brighton draw after a long spell out with an ACL injury suffered during pre‑season.
He has not played a Premier League minute in over a year. When asked about Maddison’s status, De Zerby explained: "Maddison is still feeling some discomfort.
He felt pain this week, but it isn’t a serious issue. He will travel with us tomorrow because his presence is important, whether he plays or not.
If he can get on the field, that would be ideal, but even as a leader in the dressing room he adds a positive influence. I want to see positive attitudes and good people, and that helps his teammates as well." Injury concerns continue to plague Tottenham. Destiny Udogie, Pape Sarr and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario are all sidelined, adding to a lengthy list that already includes captain Cristian Romero, Mohamed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski.
De Zerby gave an update on each player: "Udogie has a problem; I don’t think he will be fit for tomorrow. He played a great first half against Brighton, but the second half was tougher for him. We have Djed Spence and Souza available, and I hope Udogie can return for the Villa Park game. It’s not a major injury, but it does affect us because he is a crucial player." He added that Sarr will miss the Wolves trip due to shoulder pain, and Vicario is also unavailable, though the Italian expects the goalkeeper to rejoin the squad next Monday.
"Sarr felt a pain in his shoulder this week and hasn’t trained with the group, so he can’t travel. Vicario is recovering; I hope he can start with me on Monday. Antonin Kinsky is playing really well, and I hope Vicario returns in top physical condition because he is another important player for us." Beyond the tactical and personnel issues, Tottenham have announced that the team 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 and confirming that all offending content has been reported to the Metropolitan Police, resulting in the removal and banning of the responsible accounts. De Zerby expressed his frustration at the abuse during his press conference: "I was very annoyed by the abuse aimed at Kevin.
He played a fantastic game; a single mistake does not define a player. What matters is his behaviour on the pitch. He will be here next season because he is a good person and we are lucky to have him." The club’s anti‑racism campaign underscores its commitment to creating a safe environment for players and fans alike.
By displaying the anti‑racism shirts, Tottenham hopes to send a clear message that any form of discrimination will be met with the strongest possible action. For supporters eager to follow the match, highlights of the Wolves versus Tottenham encounter will be available on the Sky Sports app from 5:15 pm on Saturday. Additionally, fans can participate in the Super 6 competition for a chance to win £250,000, with free entry offered through the club’s official channels.
In summary, De Zerby’s message to his squad is clear: stay focused, respect the table, and seize the opportunity at Wolves to inch closer to safety. With injuries still limiting squad depth, the manager will need to rely on the resilience and quality of his available players, while also fostering a positive atmosphere that rejects any form of racism or negativity. The upcoming game represents a pivotal moment in Tottenham’s fight for survival, and a victory could provide the momentum needed to navigate the final stretch of the season.