Roberto De Zerbi, the new manager of Tottenham Hotspur, delivered a fiery declaration as the club continues its struggle to stay clear of the relegation zone. In a recent interview, he emphatically told supporters and the media that "we are not relegated yet" and warned against the spread of pessimistic commentary surrounding the team. The statement came after Spurs secured their first Premier League victory of the 2026 season, a narrow 1‑0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. While the triumph offered a glimmer of hope, the club remains two points adrift of safety and faces a daunting road ahead, especially after the loss of two key attacking players – Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke – to injury.
Those setbacks have intensified the pressure on De Zerbi, who now has to guide his side through a critical stretch of fixtures. Ahead of the upcoming clash at Aston Villa, Tottenham finds themselves in a precarious position. A win at Villa Park could see them still five points behind West Ham United if the Hammers manage to defeat Brentford on Saturday.
De Zerbi, however, made it clear that there is no room for defeatist attitudes. When Sky Sports News' Michael Bridge asked whether he was prepared to address the growing gloom, the Italian coach responded with a measured yet resolute tone: "I saw the comments on television, but this is not a debate.
I heard people saying it is impossible for us to stay up. Some are even crying, saying we are already relegated.
I say – not yet." He went on to stress the importance of fighting until the final whistle. "We have to give everything on the pitch. To die on the pitch means we must be willing to lose the game, but before we lose we must fight and play with heart," De Zerbi explained. He reminded everyone that Tottenham sits two points behind West Ham, a team that also faces a challenging fixture, underscoring that the situation is difficult for all involved.
The manager also tackled the wave of negativity that has been circulating among fans, pundits, and even within the squad. "Losers tend to complain, they think negatively. I do not want the people close to me – players, staff, supporters – to be crying or adopting a defeatist mindset," he said. He identified the internal voice of doubt as the biggest obstacle, describing it as a source of thoughts that blame bad luck, injuries, or external factors such as the quality of the medical staff, the condition of the pitch, or the training facilities.
"All of that is rubbish. I want to focus on the quality of my players and what we can achieve together," he asserted. When asked about the upcoming opponent, De Zerbi showed respect for Aston Villa’s manager Unai Emery but dismissed the notion that a victory would be miraculous. "We are playing one of the best sides in the league at the moment.
If we win at Villa Park it will be because of our own quality, not because of a miracle," he said, adding that even a loss would not be a disaster if the team displayed the right attitude. Addressing the injury crisis, De Zerbi highlighted the depth of his squad.
"If Simons and Solanke are unavailable, we have players like Randal Kolo Muani, Mathys Tel, Richarlison – they are not inferior, they simply have different characteristics, but they are very good," he explained. He also listed the core of his starting eleven: Pedro Porro, Destiny Udogie, Micky van de Ven, Rodrigo Bentancur, João Palhinha and Conor Gallagher. "These are the players I trust, and I do not have time to listen to endless criticism," he added.
During the interview, Michael Bridge recounted how De Zerbi seemed to notice his presence on the set, prompting Bridge to ask about the impact of the recent injuries on the team's morale. Bridge noted that the injury list now includes long‑term absentees such as Wilson Odobert, Dejan Kulusevski, Mohammed Kudus, Cristian Romero and, of course, Simons. He pointed out that De Zerbi had originally counted on Kudus, Romero and Simons, only to see each suffer serious setbacks.
Bridge concluded that De Zerbi’s refusal to indulge in negativity was a sign of his professionalism, replying, "You're absolutely right, fair play." The broader media commentary has been bleak. Sky Sports tipster Lewis Jones warned that the signs of a relegation battle are unmistakable, suggesting that the footballing gods have already decided Tottenham’s fate. He referenced the narrow win at Wolves, the heartbreaking injury‑time winner for West Ham, and the mounting injuries to key players as evidence that Spurs’ path is increasingly treacherous.
Nevertheless, the betting markets still show some confidence in Tottenham, offering relatively attractive odds for an Aston Villa victory. Jones argued that the odds underestimate Villa’s strength under Emery, noting that Villa have already defeated Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United at Villa Park this season.
He suggested that a Spurs loss would be expected, but also hinted that the market may be over‑reacting to Tottenham’s need for points. In summary, De Zerbi’s message to Tottenham is clear: reject the narrative of inevitable relegation, concentrate on the players’ abilities, and maintain a positive, fighting spirit. The upcoming match at Villa Park will be a crucial test of whether his words can translate into performance on the field. If Spurs can secure a win, they will narrow the gap to safety and perhaps shift the momentum in their favour.
If they falter, the club will need to regroup quickly, as the clock continues to tick down on a season that has already tested the resolve of everyone involved.