Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has been brutally honest about the stakes of Saturday’s clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers as his side fights to avoid sharing the same relegation destiny. The Spurs are entrenched in the Premier League’s bottom tier, sitting two points behind 17th‑place 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 his first point – a hard‑earned home draw against Brighton where Tottenham led twice before settling for a stalemate – the club has yet to notch a league win in the 2026 campaign. With only five fixtures remaining, the Italian coach stresses that his players must remain fully aware of the precarious situation they occupy.
"I don’t want to add pressure, but we have to understand where we stand," De Zerbi told reporters. "We can’t ignore the table, we can’t forget that we need to win.
What we have done so far simply isn’t enough. If we secure a win at Wolves, the battle isn’t over, but it will be a massive step forward." He went on to underline the difficulty of the task: "There will be four games left and we deserve to win them.
I knew Brighton were one of the best sides in the league – after Chelsea everyone understood that. We played well but were unlucky. It’s not an easy match," he said, referring to the upcoming encounter with a Wolves side that has already been condemned to relegation.
De Zerbi highlighted Wolves’ recent home form, noting that they had drawn with Arsenal and beaten both Aston Villa and Liverpool. "They have nothing to lose, which makes them a very dangerous opponent. We have to play our football without letting pressure get to us," he added.
The manager’s job, he said, is to prepare the team as thoroughly as possible while allowing the players to express themselves on the pitch. "These are quality players with important attributes.
They can perform without overthinking the situation," De Zerbi explained. In terms of squad availability, midfielder James Maddison will travel to Wolverhampton but remains uncertain for match action. Maddison, who suffered an ACL injury during pre‑season and has not featured in a Premier League game for a year, was named on the bench for the Brighton draw.
De Zerbi confirmed that Maddison is still feeling discomfort: "He felt pain this week, but it isn’t serious. He’ll be with us tomorrow because his presence is important, whether he plays or not. His leadership and positive attitude are valuable for the dressing room." Tottenham’s injury list continues to grow.
Defender Destiny Udogie, midfielder Pape Sarr and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario are all doubtful, joining captain Cristian Romero, Mohamed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski among others. Regarding Udogie, De Zerbi said: "He performed well in the first half against Brighton, but I don’t think he can play tomorrow.
It’s not a major injury, just a precaution. He’s a crucial player for us, and I hope he’ll be fit for the Villa Park match." Sarr, who is dealing with shoulder pain, will miss the Wolves trip, while Vicario is also unavailable but is expected to return to training on Monday. De Zerbi expressed optimism about the recovery of both: "I hope Vicario can be back in top physical condition soon.
Antonin Kinsky has been playing really well, and I trust our squad depth will cover these absences." Beyond the tactical and personnel issues, Tottenham have taken a stand against racism ahead of the decisive game. The club announced that the team will wear shirts bearing the slogan "Spurs against Racism" in response to the online abuse directed at defender Kevin Danso after the Brighton draw.
Spurs stated they will pursue the strongest possible action against anyone who thinks racial harassment is acceptable, having reported the offending content to the Metropolitan Police, resulting in the removal and banning of several accounts. De Zerbi addressed the incident in his press conference, expressing his frustration: "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 behavior on the pitch that matters.
He will be with us next season because he’s a good guy and we’re lucky to have him." The upcoming match will be streamed live, with highlights available on the Sky Sports app from 5.15 pm on Saturday. Fans can also take part in the Super 6 competition for a chance to win £250,000, entering for free.
As the final weeks of the season loom, De Zerbi’s message is clear: stay grounded, respect the table, and seize every opportunity to collect points, because for Tottenham, survival is the only acceptable outcome.