Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi was unequivocal about the importance of the upcoming fixture at Wolverhampton Wanderers, stressing that while he does not wish to burden his squad with excessive pressure, the reality of their situation demands a win. The North London club finds itself entrenched in the relegation battle, sitting in the 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. The side’s only point under De Zerbi so far came from a 1-1 home draw with Brighton, a match in which they led twice before ultimately sharing the spoils.
Despite that small bright spot, Tottenham have yet to secure a league victory in the 2026 campaign. With just five games remaining, the manager warned his players not to lose sight of the stakes. "I don’t want to create extra pressure, but we have to be fully aware of where we stand," De Zerbi told reporters.
"We cannot ignore the table or the fact that we need to win. What we have done up to now simply isn’t enough.
If we can take three points at Wolves, the season will not be over yet." He went on to explain that the Wolves match will be one of four crucial fixtures left on the calendar and that Spurs deserve to claim victories. "Brighton are one of the strongest teams in the league, and after the Chelsea game everyone understood the level we can reach. We played well but were unlucky," he said, adding that the Wolves encounter will be especially tough because the hosts have already been relegated and therefore have nothing to lose.
De Zerbi highlighted his role in preparing the team: "My job is to set up the best possible game plan and then let the players express themselves on the pitch. They are talented, they have the right qualities, and they can play without overthinking." Injury concerns continue to plague Tottenham. Midfielder James Maddison, who suffered an ACL tear during pre‑season, travelled with the squad to Wolverhampton but remains unavailable for match action.
De Zerbi confirmed that Maddison still feels discomfort and, while his presence in the dressing room is valuable, his participation on the field is not guaranteed. "If he can play, it would be great, but even if he cannot, his leadership and positivity are important for the group," the manager said.
The injury list also includes full‑back Destiny Udogie, midfielder Pape Sarr, and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, alongside captain Cristian Romero, Mohamed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski. Udogie, who impressed in the first half of the Brighton game, is doubtful for the Wolves clash, though De Zerbi expressed hope that he will be fit for the subsequent match at Villa Park. Sarr missed training this week due to shoulder pain, and Vicario is expected to return to full training on Monday. Tottenham will also use the occasion to make a stand against racism.
The club announced that players will wear shirts bearing the slogan "Spurs against Racism" in response to online abuse directed at defender Kevin Danso after the Brighton draw. Spurs have reported the abusive content to the Metropolitan Police, resulting in the removal and banning of several accounts. De Zerbi condemned the attacks, stating, "I was very upset by the abuse aimed at Kevin. He played a fantastic game; one mistake does not define him.
His character and professionalism are what matter, and we will continue to support him fully." The Wolves‑Spurs game will be streamed live on the Sky Sports app, with highlights available from 5.15 pm on Saturday. Fans are also invited to join the Super 6 competition for a chance to win £250,000, with free entry offered. As the season draws to a close, De Zerbi’s message is clear: respect the opponent, stay focused, and seize every opportunity to collect the points needed to survive the drop.