Roberto De Zerbi, the head coach of Tottenham Hotspur, delivered a fervent message to his squad and supporters as the club continues its battle against relegation. "We are not relegated yet," he declared, urging everyone to abandon the defeatist chatter that has been circulating around the club. The statement came after Spurs secured their first Premier League victory of the 2026 campaign with a narrow 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, a result that lifted the team temporarily but left them still two points shy of safety.
The situation remains precarious. Tottenham sit just outside the drop zone, and the path to safety has become even steeper after the recent injuries to two of their most promising attacking talents, Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke. Simons, who has been praised for his creativity and flair, has missed the last two matches, while Solanke, a reliable forward who has contributed crucial goals, is also sidelined.
Their absences have forced De Zerbi to reshuffle his line‑up and rely on the depth of his squad. Looking ahead to the upcoming clash at Aston Villa, De Zerbi emphasized that there is no room for negativity. "I saw the headlines and the pundits saying it’s impossible for us to stay up. I hear people crying, saying we’re already relegated.
That’s not true – we are still in the fight," he told Sky Sports News' Michael Bridge. The manager stressed that the team must focus on the task at hand: playing with intensity, battling for every ball, and giving their all on the pitch. "We have to die on the field – and to die on the field we must first lose the fear of losing. Before we can win, we have to play, we have to fight," he said.
De Zerbi highlighted the narrow margin separating Tottenham from West Ham United, who are also battling to climb out of the relegation zone. "We are two points behind West Ham, and they have a tough game as well. This is not the best moment for us; it is a tough and difficult moment," he admitted, acknowledging the pressure but refusing to let it dictate the team’s mindset. The manager also addressed the internal narrative that can undermine a squad’s confidence.
"Losers complain, losers think negative. I don’t want the people around me to be crying or thinking differently from me," De Zerbi said. He identified a "voice inside" the club—among players, staff, and fans—that fuels doubt by pointing to injuries, perceived shortcomings in the medical department, and criticisms of the stadium pitch and training facilities.
"That voice says we are unlucky, we have too many injuries, we lost Simons, our medical staff isn’t good enough, the pitch isn’t good. Those are all negative thoughts and they are rubbish. I want to keep my focus on our own quality," he asserted.
When asked about the upcoming match against Villa, De Zerbi made it clear that a win would not be a miracle but a realistic outcome if the team executes its game plan. "We respect Unai Emery, he’s a great coach, but if Tottenham win at Villa Park it is not a miracle. Maybe we lose, but we have the quality to win this game," he said, underscoring his belief in the squad’s ability to compete against one of the league’s current powerhouses.
De Zerbi also spoke about the depth of his roster, pointing out that even with Simons and Solanke unavailable, the team still possesses a host of talented players capable of stepping up. He named Randal Kolo Muani, Mathys Tel, Richarlison, Pedro Porro, Destiny Udogie, Micky van de Ven, Rodrigo Bentancur, João Palhinha, and Conor Gallagher as quality options who, while different in style, are more than capable of delivering solid performances. "They are not worse players; they are different, but very good," he emphasized. The manager concluded by reiterating his commitment to positivity and hard work.
"We have to be positive and feel lucky because we are working at a big club. If we keep our focus, we can turn this season around," De Zerbi said, before moving on to tactical preparations for the Villa match. In the post‑match interview, Sky Sports’ Michael Bridge tried to probe De Zerbi about the injuries that have plagued Tottenham.
Bridge noted that the club has suffered long‑term absences to key figures such as Wilson Odobert, Dejan Kulusevski, Mohammed Kudus, Cristian Romero, and now Simons. He recounted how De Zerbi had initially counted on Kudus, Romero, and Simons, only to see each of them sidelined by serious injuries. Bridge suggested that the string of setbacks could jeopardise Spurs’ survival hopes, but De Zerbi responded that he would not allow negativity to dominate the locker‑room atmosphere. The broader football community remains divided.
Some pundits, like Sky Sports tipster Lewis Jones, warn that the season feels increasingly like a relegation battle, pointing to the club’s recent win at Wolves as insufficient evidence of a turnaround. Others, however, see value in the betting markets, which still offer relatively generous odds on Tottenham’s chances, reflecting a lingering belief that the team can pull off a comeback. As Tottenham prepare to travel to Villa Park, the narrative will hinge on whether De Zerbi can translate his motivational words into tangible results on the field. The manager’s challenge is not only tactical but psychological: silencing the chorus of doubt, rallying his players, and extracting the best from a squad stretched by injuries.
If Spurs can secure a positive result against a strong Villa side, they will narrow the gap to safety and keep their Premier League hopes alive. The next few weeks will be decisive in determining whether De Zerbi’s call to stay optimistic and fight hard will be enough to keep Tottenham in the top flight.