Roberto De Zerbi has urged Tottenham Hotspur to hold their nerve as the club’s relegation fears deepen, insisting that one win could prove the turning point in their Premier League survival fight.
Spurs fell into the bottom three after losing 1-0 to Sunderland on Sunday, 12 April 2026. The only goal of the match arrived in the second half, when Nordi Mukiele’s effort — credited as a deflection — proved enough to separate the two sides and inflict yet another damaging defeat on the North London club.
The result leaves Tottenham two points adrift of safety with six Premier League fixtures still to play. More alarmingly, the club has now gone without a win since December, a run that has fuelled growing concern over a first Spurs relegation since 1977.
Despite the gravity of the situation, De Zerbi, who replaced Igor Tudor in the Tottenham dugout earlier this season, was resolute in his post-match assessment. Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “We have to work on one win because with one win we can change everything this season.”
The Italian manager acknowledged that his squad possesses the necessary ability but identified a crisis of confidence as the central obstacle. “The players have great quality, but we have to believe more in ourselves. The crucial part is to win one game,” he said.
De Zerbi also outlined the personal role he believes he must play in steadying the group. “I can be a big brother, a father; they don’t need a coach. They can play better and they will play better once we reach a different level of confidence,” he added.
With the clock running down on the campaign, Tottenham’s remaining schedule takes on enormous significance. Upcoming fixtures against Brighton & Hove Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers are widely regarded as pivotal contests if Spurs are to haul themselves out of the drop zone before the season concludes.
Ghana international Mohammed Kudus, one of Tottenham’s attacking options, has also been ruled out for three months, further complicating De Zerbi’s selection options during this critical period.
Tottenham’s predicament represents one of the most dramatic downturns in the club’s recent history. Having competed in European football in previous seasons, the prospect of second-tier football at a redeveloped Tottenham Hotspur Stadium would carry significant financial and reputational consequences, affecting commercial agreements, player recruitment, and squad retention heading into next season.
