Roberto De Zerbi, the newly‑appointed manager of Tottenham Hotspur, delivered a fervent message to his players, staff and supporters as the club continues its battle to stay in the Premier League. In a candid interview with Sky Sports News, the Italian coach rejected the prevailing narrative that the team was already doomed, insisting that "we're not relegated yet" and urging everyone to discard the pessimistic chatter that has surrounded the club in recent weeks. The statement came after Tottenham secured their first league victory of the 2026 season, a narrow 1‑0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Molineux Stadium.
While the triumph was a much‑needed boost, the Spurs remain two points adrift of safety and still face a daunting run of fixtures. Injuries have taken a heavy toll, with key attacking talents Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke both sidelined, leaving the manager with limited options ahead of the crucial clash with Aston Villa at Villa Park. De Zerbi was asked by Sky Sports' Michael Bridge whether he felt the club was surrounded by a "negative" atmosphere.
He responded emphatically, "I saw the headlines, I heard the whispers that we cannot stay up. People are crying, saying we are already relegated.
That is not true – we are still in the fight." He went on to explain that the team must focus on the fundamentals of the game: "We have to give everything on the pitch. To win we must first play, to play we must fight, and to fight we must believe we can still turn this season around." The manager highlighted the precarious position of Spurs in the table, noting that they sit two points behind West Ham United, who themselves have a difficult match on the same weekend. "It is a tough moment for us, but we cannot let the losers' mindset dictate our actions.
The most important challenge now is to silence the inner voice that feeds negativity – the voice that says we are unlucky, that injuries have ruined us, that our medical staff, the pitch or the training facilities are to blame. Those excuses do not help anyone." De Zerbi also addressed the injury list directly, acknowledging that the loss of Simons, who had been one of the team's most creative outlets in the last two games, was a blow. However, he insisted that the squad still possesses quality depth. "If Simons and Solanke are unavailable, we can still field Randal Kolo Muani, Mathys Tel, Richarlison – they are not inferior players, they simply bring different attributes.
We also have Pedro Porro, Destiny Udogie, Micky van de Ven, Rodrigo Bentancur, João Palhinha and Conor Gallagher. All of these men are capable of delivering a strong performance." The coach made it clear that he does not want his inner circle – players, staff or fans – to dwell on the negative. "We have to stay positive and feel fortunate to be working at a big club.
The quality we have is there; we just need to translate it onto the field. Winning at Villa Park is not a miracle, it is a realistic target if we execute our game plan." When asked about his respect for Aston Villa's manager Unai Emery, De Zerbi replied with admiration but confidence. "I have great respect for Unai Emery, he has built a strong side, but Tottenham can win this game.
It is not a miracle; it is a matter of belief and execution." The interview also touched on the broader injury crisis that has plagued Tottenham since De Zerbi arrived. Sky Sports' Michael Bridge recounted a graphic showing long‑term absences for players such as Wilson Odobert, Dejan Kulusevski, Mohammed Kudus and Cristian Romero, in addition to Simons and Solanke. Bridge suggested that the string of serious injuries could derail the club's survival hopes, but De Zerbi dismissed the gloom, stating, "We have been unlucky, yes, but we will not let that define us. We will keep our focus on what we can control – our preparation, our tactics and our attitude." The manager's message was echoed by Sky Sports tipster Lewis Jones, who warned that the narrative of a relegation‑doomed Tottenham has become self‑fulfilling.
Jones argued that despite the recent win, Spurs have not displayed the level of football needed to compete consistently, especially against a Villa side that has already beaten Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United at home this season. He suggested that betting markets still see value in backing Villa, but emphasized that Tottenham must reject the defeatist script if they hope to survive. In summary, De Zerbi's rallying cry is simple yet powerful: reject the notion that the season is already lost, silence the voices of doubt, and concentrate on playing with intensity, discipline and confidence. With a crucial match against a strong Aston Villa side looming, the manager believes his squad has the talent and the resolve to secure three points, close the gap on West Ham and keep their Premier League hopes alive.
The coming weeks will test whether Tottenham can translate this renewed optimism into results, or if the negative narrative will continue to haunt them as they fight for survival.