Roberto De Zerbi, the newly appointed manager of Tottenham Hotspur, delivered a fervent message to his squad and supporters as the club battles to avoid relegation. In a candid interview with Sky Sports News, he declared that the team "is not relegated yet" and urged everyone to stop feeding the negative narrative that has been circulating around the club. The Spurs side secured their first Premier League victory of the 2026 season last weekend, edging out Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Molineux Stadium. Despite the win, Tottenham remain two points adrift of safety, and the road to survival has become steeper after injuries to two of their most promising attacking talents, Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke.
Both players have been sidelined with significant muscle problems, leaving De Zerbi with a depleted attacking line‑up as they prepare for the upcoming clash with Aston Villa. Looking ahead to Sunday’s fixture at Villa Park, De Zerbi stressed that there is no room for defeatist thinking. When asked by Sky Sports’ Michael Bridge whether he had heard the pessimistic chatter that the club’s Premier League stay was "impossible," the Italian manager replied, "I watched you on TV, but it is not a polemic.
I heard, ‘It is impossible [to stay up]’. We are crying, everyone [saying], ‘We are relegated.’ Not yet." He went on to explain that the team must focus on the fundamentals: work hard on the pitch, fight for every ball, and maintain belief in their own abilities. De Zerbi highlighted the precarious position of Tottenham in the table, noting that they sit two points behind West Ham United, who themselves have a tough match ahead.
"It is not the best moment for us; it is a tough and difficult moment," he admitted, but added that the club must not succumb to the mindset of losers. "The losers cry, the losers think negative. I don't want people close to me to be crying or think in a different way from me," he said.
According to De Zerbi, the greatest challenge now is to silence the inner voice that feeds doubt among players, staff, and fans. He listed a litany of complaints that have been voiced in the media: the perceived bad luck of injuries, the loss of Simons who had been a standout performer in the last two games, criticism of the medical department, and even grievances about the quality of the pitch at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the training facilities.
"These are all negative things and it's rubbish because I want to keep my focus on ourselves and the quality of my players," the manager asserted. When asked about the difficulty of facing Aston Villa, a side that has been one of the Premier League’s most consistent performers this season under Unai Emery, De Zerbi responded with measured optimism.
"We go to play against one of the best teams at the moment in the Premier League. I have big respect for [Unai] Emery as a 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 and it is not a miracle," he said. He emphasized that the outcome will depend on execution rather than hope.
De Zerbi also addressed the squad depth issue caused by the injuries to Simons and Solanke. He reminded listeners that Tottenham possess several capable alternatives: Randal Kolo Muani, Mathys Tel, Richarlison, and other forwards who, while different in style, are still high‑quality players. He listed the broader roster, including Pedro Porro, Destiny Udogie, Micky van de Ven, Rodrigo Bentancur, João Palhinha, and Conor Gallagher, underscoring that the team has enough talent to compete if they stay united and disciplined. The interview also featured a back‑and‑forth with Sky Sports’ Michael Bridge, who tried to probe whether De Zerbi was aware of the negative commentary surrounding the club.
Bridge recounted his own attempt to ask about the "huge cost" of the win due to injuries, only for De Zerbi to interject that he had indeed watched the broadcast. Bridge then highlighted the long‑term nature of many of Tottenham’s injuries, naming Wilson Odobert, Dejan Kulusevski, Mohammed Kudus, Cristian Romero, and the recently sidelined Simons as examples of players who have missed extended periods. He noted that De Zerbi’s initial plans to rely on Kudus, Romero and Simons have been repeatedly thwarted by bad luck, raising concerns about the club’s ability to stay afloat.
In response, De Zerbi reiterated his refusal to indulge in negativity. "He doesn't want any negativity, and he's getting on with it, so my message back to him is 'You're absolutely right, fair play'," Bridge concluded, echoing the manager’s own stance. The broader media reaction, represented by Sky Sports tipster Lewis Jones, painted a bleak picture of Tottenham’s season, describing it as a "relegation season" based on the pattern of results and injuries.
Jones argued that despite the 1‑0 win at Wolves, the team’s performance was unconvincing, and the injury‑time winner that secured West Ham’s survival was a cruel reminder of how fine the margins have become. He also pointed out that the betting markets still show confidence in Villa’s chances, offering odds of 21/20 for a win, reflecting the perception that Spurs are an inferior side in most departments. Nevertheless, De Zerbi’s message remains clear: the club must reject defeatist rhetoric, focus on the quality within the squad, and approach each match with a positive, fighting spirit.
As the Tottenham faithful prepare for the Villa encounter, the manager’s rallying cry—"we are not relegated yet"—serves as both a reminder of the stakes and a call to collective belief. The outcome of the match could either narrow the gap to safety or deepen the crisis, but whatever happens, De Zerbi insists that the only narrative Spurs should entertain is one of resilience, hard work, and an unwavering refusal to accept defeat as a foregone conclusion.