Roberto De Zerbi, the head coach of Tottenham Hotspur, delivered a fervent message to his squad and supporters as the club continues its struggle to stay clear of the relegation zone. He declared unequivocally, "We are not relegated yet," and insisted that any pessimistic commentary surrounding the team must be shut down immediately. The Spurs secured their first Premier League victory of the 2026 season with a narrow win over Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend, yet the triumph did little to ease their precarious position.
They remain two points adrift of safety, and the challenge of clawing back into the safe zone has grown more daunting after the recent loss of key attackers Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke to injury. Both players have been pivotal in the team's attacking output, and their absences have forced De Zerbi to reshuffle his line‑up ahead of the upcoming clash with Aston Villa. Ahead of Sunday’s trip to Villa Park, De Zerbi was asked by Sky Sports News’ Michael Bridge about the prevailing mood around the club. The Italian manager responded with a mix of defiance and determination: "I saw the headlines, I heard the chatter that we cannot survive.
Some people are already crying ‘we are relegated’. It’s not true – we are still in the fight." He went on to stress that the only way to survive is to give everything on the pitch, even if that means risking defeat in the short term.
"We have to die on the field – to die means to give everything, even if it results in a loss. Before we lose, we must fight, we must play with heart, and we must keep pushing forward," he said. De Zerbi reminded everyone that Tottenham sit two points behind West Ham, a side that also faces a demanding fixture schedule. "It is a tough moment for us, a difficult period, but we cannot let the negativity take hold," he added.
"Losers tend to whine, they look for excuses. I do not want anyone close to me – players, staff, fans – to succumb to that mindset." The coach identified the biggest obstacle as the internal voice of doubt that can infiltrate a squad under pressure. "The biggest challenge now is to silence that inner voice – the one that whispers we are unlucky, that injuries are too many, that we lost Xavi Simons, who was one of our best players in the last two games," De Zerbi explained. He listed a litany of complaints that have been circulating: questions about the quality of the medical team, criticisms of the stadium pitch and training facilities, and the belief that winning two or three games in a row is impossible given the limited successes so far this season.
He dismissed these concerns as "rubbish" and insisted his focus remains on the abilities of his players. "We are about to face one of the strongest sides in the league at the moment.
I have great respect for Unai Emery as a manager, but a win at Villa Park would not be a miracle – it would be a result of our quality. Even if we lose, we have the talent to win this match," De Zerbi affirmed. Addressing the injury crisis, De Zerbi highlighted the depth of his roster.
"If Solanke and Simons are unavailable, we can still field Randal Kolo Muani, Mathys Tel, Richarlison – they are not inferior players, they simply bring different qualities, but they are all very good," he said. He also mentioned the contributions of Pedro Porro, Destiny Udogie, Micky van de Ven, Rodrigo Bentancur, João Palhinha and Conor Gallagher, underscoring that the squad possesses a range of skill sets capable of adapting to the challenges ahead. When asked whether he was aware of the media’s focus on the club’s injury list, De Zerbi replied that he had indeed watched the broadcast and recognized the criticism.
He noted that the injuries are not minor knocks but long‑term absences involving players such as Wilson Odobert, Dejan Kulusevski, Mohammed Kudus, Cristian Romero and now Simons. "When I arrived, I wanted to rely on Kudus, but he suffered a quad injury. I counted on Romero, and he was sidelined with a serious problem.
I hoped Simons would be a key creative outlet, and now he is out as well. It feels unlucky, but we must move beyond that narrative," De Zerbi said. The manager’s message to the fans and the broader football community was clear: negativity will not be tolerated.
"I want everyone around the club – players, staff, supporters – to stay positive and feel lucky to be part of a big institution like Tottenham. We have the resources, the talent, and the determination to turn this season around," he concluded. As the Spurs prepare for their encounter with Aston Villa, the stakes are high.
A victory could narrow the gap to West Ham and restore some belief; a defeat would deepen the anxiety. De Zerbi’s rallying cry aims to galvanize his team, urging them to play with confidence, to ignore the doubters, and to focus on the football they can control. The upcoming match will be a litmus test for whether his call for optimism can translate into the points needed to keep Tottenham’s Premier League status alive.