Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi was unequivocal about the importance of Saturday's away fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers, stressing that while he does not wish to burden his players with excessive pressure, the team must secure a win to keep its survival hopes alive. The North London club find themselves entrenched in a relegation battle, sitting in the Premier League's bottom three after a 5-0 defeat to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Friday night. That loss left Spurs two points behind 17th‑placed West Ham United and eight points adrift of 16th‑place Nottingham Forest. Under De Zerbi’s stewardship, Tottenham have managed only a single point from a home draw with Brighton & Hove Albion, a match in which they led twice before eventually settling for a stalemate.
The result means the club has yet to register a league victory in the 2025‑26 campaign, and with just five games remaining, the margin for error is vanishingly small. The manager warned his squad not to lose sight of the precarious situation. "I don’t want to put pressure on the players, but we have to be fully aware of where we stand," De Zerbi said in the pre‑match press conference.
"We cannot ignore the table or the fact that we need to win. What we have done so far is not enough. If we win at Wolves, the season is not over, but it will be a massive step forward." He added that the team still has four matches left after Wolves and that Spurs deserve to win those games.
"Brighton are one of the best sides in the league. After Chelsea, everyone understood the challenge we faced. We played well but were unlucky," De Zerbi reflected.
"It’s not an easy game," he noted, referring to the Wolves encounter, acknowledging that the Wolves side have already been relegated and therefore have nothing to lose. The manager highlighted the recent form of Wolves at the Molineux Stadium, pointing out that they have drawn with Arsenal and beaten both Aston Villa and Liverpool in their last three home games. "It’s a tough match because they have nothing to lose.
We must play our football without being overwhelmed by pressure," De Zerbi said. Preparing his squad, De Zerbi emphasized his role in setting up the team tactically while allowing the players to express themselves on the pitch. "My job is to prepare the game in the best possible way, but ultimately it’s about playing football. These are very good players with important qualities, and they can perform without overthinking," he explained.
James Maddison will travel to Wolverhampton with the squad, but De Zerbi confirmed that the England midfielder is still not fit to feature. Maddison, who suffered an ACL injury during pre‑season, has not played a competitive match for Tottenham since that setback and has not appeared in the Premier League for over a year. "Maddison is not available yet. He felt pain this week, but it’s not a serious problem.
He will travel with us because he is important," De Zerbi said. "Whether he plays or not doesn’t matter; it would be great if he does, both for his ability and his leadership in the dressing room.
I want positive, supportive people around the team." Injury concerns also loom over several other first‑team members. Destiny Udogie, Pape Sarr and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario have all been ruled out for the Wolves match, adding to an already extensive injury list that includes captain Cristian Romero, Mohamed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski. Regarding Udogie, De Zerbi remarked, "He had a great first half against Brighton, but I don’t think he can play tomorrow. It’s not a major injury, but he is a crucial player for us." Sarr, who is nursing a shoulder problem, will also miss the trip, while Vicario is expected to return to training on Monday.
"Sarr felt pain in his shoulder and didn’t work with the group this week. Vicario isn’t available now, but I hope he can be back in top condition soon," De Zerbi added, praising Antonin Kinský’s recent performances and expressing optimism about Vicario’s recovery. Tottenham have also announced that they will wear shirts bearing the slogan "Spurs against Racism" for the Wolves game, a gesture prompted by online racist abuse directed at defender Kevin Danso after the Brighton draw. The club issued a statement condemning such behaviour and confirming that they have reported the abusive content to the Metropolitan Police, resulting in the removal and banning of several accounts.
De Zerbi expressed his frustration at the abuse, saying, "I was very annoyed about the abuse aimed at Kevin. He played a fantastic game. One mistake does not define a player; it’s the behaviour 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." The upcoming clash at Molineux is therefore a pivotal moment for Tottenham. A victory would not only provide three vital points but also boost morale and potentially spark a late‑season resurgence. Conversely, a defeat could deepen the crisis and increase the pressure on De Zerbi and his squad as they head into the final stretch of the Premier League calendar. Fans can watch highlights of the Wolves versus Tottenham match on the Sky Sports app from 5:15 pm on Saturday, and the club encourages supporters to engage with the Super 6 competition for a chance to win £250,000, entry being free of charge.