Tottenham Hotspur’s manager Roberto De Zerbi delivered a fervent message to his squad and supporters on the club’s battle to stay in the Premier League, emphatically stating, “We are not relegated yet.” He warned against the spread of defeatist commentary and urged everyone connected with Spurs to focus on the task at hand. The statement came after Tottenham secured their first league victory of the 2026 season with a narrow 1‑0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. Despite the triumph, the north London side remain two points adrift of safety and face a daunting road ahead, especially after losing key attackers Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke to injury.
The injuries have further complicated De Zerbi’s plans as the team prepares for an away fixture at Aston Villa. Ahead of Sunday’s clash, De Zerbi dismissed any talk of inevitability.
When Sky Sports News’ Michael Bridge asked whether he had heard the pessimistic chorus claiming Spurs were already doomed, the Italian manager replied, “I saw the headlines, but I’m not here to argue. I heard people saying it’s impossible to stay up.
They’re crying, saying ‘We’re relegated.’ Not yet.” He stressed that the club must keep fighting and that surrendering to negativity would only accelerate the decline. The upcoming match against Villa is crucial. A win could keep Tottenham within touching distance of West Ham, who themselves have a difficult game on Saturday against Brentford. De Zerbi explained that a victory at Villa Park would not be a miracle, but a realistic outcome if the players apply themselves.
“We have the quality to win this game,” he said, adding that losing would be disappointing but not unexpected given the circumstances. De Zerbi also addressed the internal voice of doubt that can creep into a dressing room when results are scarce.
He said the most important challenge is to silence that inner critic, which he believes fuels thoughts such as “we’re unlucky,” “our medical staff is inadequate,” or “the pitch and training ground are sub‑par.” He dismissed these complaints as rubbish, insisting that the focus must remain on the abilities of the squad rather than external excuses. When asked about the impact of the injuries, De Zerbi highlighted the depth of the roster. He pointed out that even without Simons and Solanke, Tottenham can rely on players like Randal Kolo Muani, Mathys Tel, Richarlison, and others who bring different qualities but are still highly capable. He listed several other first‑team members – Pedro Porro, Destiny Udogie, Micky van de Ven, Rodrigo Bentancur, João Palhinha and Conor Gallagher – to illustrate that the squad possesses enough talent to compete.
The manager’s remarks were interspersed with a live‑blog style recap of the Sky Sports interview, where Bridge tried to probe the manager about the cost of the Wolves win given the injury list. Bridge noted that the graphic shown on the broadcast displayed a long list of absentees, including Wilson Odobert, Dejan Kulusevski, Mohammed Kudus and Cristian Romero, alongside the newly injured Simons.
Bridge argued that the string of bad luck could jeopardise Tottenham’s survival hopes, but De Zerbi responded that negativity would not help and that the club must remain positive and grateful for the resources at its disposal. The conversation also touched on the broader perception of Tottenham’s season. Sky Sports tipster Lewis Jones summed up the prevailing sentiment: “If it looks like a relegation season, smells like a relegation season, quacks like a relegation season, then it probably is a relegation season.” He noted that despite the Wolves win, the performance was not convincing, and the recent injury‑time winner for West Ham added further pressure. Jones observed that the betting markets still show confidence in Aston Villa, offering odds of 21/20 for a Villa victory, reflecting the view that Villa – under Unai Emery – are a formidable opponent who have already beaten Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United at home this campaign.
De Zerbi, however, remains undeterred. He reiterated his belief that Tottenham can still turn the tide if they approach each match with determination and keep the negative chatter at bay. He urged fans, staff and players alike to adopt a positive mindset, to feel lucky to be part of a big club, and to concentrate on the quality of the football they can produce on the pitch.
In summary, Roberto De Zerbi’s message to Tottenham is clear: the club has not been relegated, the narrative of doom must be rejected, and the focus must shift to playing with heart, battling for every point, and leveraging the depth of the squad. With a crucial game against Aston Villa looming, the manager hopes to inspire his team to deliver a performance that defies the gloom and keeps their Premier League survival hopes alive.