Roberto De Zerbi, the head coach of Tottenham Hotspur, has been unequivocal about the stakes of the upcoming clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers. With Spurs still teetering in the Premier League’s relegation zone, the Italian manager insists that while he does not wish to burden his players with excessive pressure, the reality of their situation cannot be ignored.
He reminded everyone that the club must secure a win at Wolves if they hope to keep their survival hopes alive. At the moment, Tottenham find themselves entrenched in the bottom three, sitting two points behind 17th‑placed West Ham United and eight points adrift of 16th‑placed Nottingham Forest.
Their recent 5‑0 defeat of Sunderland at the Stadium of Light did little to change the picture, as the victory came in the Championship rather than the Premier League. The most recent league result was a 2‑2 draw at home against Brighton & Hove Albion, a match in which Spurs twice held the lead before settling for a single point. That draw marked De Zerbi’s first point in charge, yet the team has yet to claim a league win in the 2026 calendar year.
With only five fixtures remaining, De Zerbi stressed the importance of keeping the club’s precarious position at the forefront of everyone’s mind. “I don’t want to put pressure on the players, but we have to understand where we stand,” he said. “We can’t pretend the table doesn’t exist; we have to remember that we need victories.” He added that the performances up to now have been insufficient and that a win at Wolves would not automatically guarantee safety, but it would be a crucial step forward.
The Wolves encounter is particularly daunting because the club have already been relegated, meaning they will approach the game with nothing to lose. De Zerbi acknowledged this dynamic, noting that Wolves have already drawn with Arsenal and secured wins over Aston Villa and Liverpool in their last three home games.
“It’s a tough match because they have nothing to lose,” he explained. “We must play our football without letting the pressure get to us.” In terms of preparation, De Zerbi said his job is to set up the team as best as possible and then let the players express themselves on the pitch. He praised the quality and character of his squad, emphasizing that they possess the technical abilities and mental resilience needed to compete.
“These are very good players with important qualities,” he said. “They can play without too many doubts in their heads.” One of the key figures whose fitness remains in question is England midfielder James Maddison. After a long lay‑off caused by an ACL injury sustained during pre‑season, Maddison was named on the bench for the Brighton match, signalling his gradual return.
De Zerbi confirmed that Maddison will travel with the team to Wolverhampton, but he is not yet ready to feature. “He felt pain this week, but it isn’t a serious problem,” the manager explained.
“If he can play, that would be great, but even if he doesn’t, his presence in the dressing room is valuable. He is a positive influence and a leader for the squad.” Injury concerns continue to plague Tottenham.
Defender Destiny Udogie, midfielder Pape Sarr, and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario are all sidelined, adding to an already extensive list that includes captain Cristian Romero, Mohamed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski. De Zerbi gave a brief update on each: Udogie, who impressed in the first half against Brighton, is unlikely to feature against Wolves; Sarr is dealing with shoulder pain and will miss the trip; Vicario is also unavailable but is expected to return to training on Monday.
The manager expressed optimism that both Sarr and Vicario will regain full fitness soon, noting the importance of their contributions to the team’s defensive stability. Beyond the tactical and personnel issues, Tottenham are also using the Wolves fixture to make a broader statement. The club announced that players will wear shirts emblazoned with the slogan “Spurs against Racism” as a response to online abuse directed at defender Kevin Danso after the Brighton draw. Spurs have reported the abusive content to the Metropolitan Police, resulting in the removal and banning of offending accounts.
De Zerbi voiced his frustration at the incident, praising Danso’s performance despite the harassment and reaffirming the club’s zero‑tolerance stance on racism. The match will be broadcast on the Sky Sports app, with highlights available from 5:15 p.m. on Saturday. Fans are also encouraged to take part in the Super 6 competition for a chance to win £250,000, with entry available free of charge.
In summary, De Zerbi’s message to his squad is clear: acknowledge the gravity of the relegation battle, stay focused on the task at hand, and strive to secure a win at Wolves. While he does not wish to add undue pressure, he insists that forgetting the league table is not an option. The next five games will determine whether Tottenham can climb out of the danger zone or face the grim prospect of dropping to the Championship once again.