Spurs manager Roberto De Zerbi says his team are ‘not finished yet’ despite a damaging draw leaving them in the Premier League relegation zone
TOTTENHAM Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi issued a defiant rallying cry after a damaging 2-2 draw with Brighton left his team mired in the Premier League relegation zone.
Spurs twice took the lead at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but conceded a late equaliser to Georginio Rutter. The result leaves Tottenham 18th, one point from safety with just five games remaining.
De Zerbi, taking charge of his first home game, admitted the draw felt like a defeat but insisted his team could still survive. “It’s not finished yet, we have another five games, it’s tough,” he said.
The Italian manager urged his distraught players to believe in his leadership and focus on the next match. “They have to follow me, they have not to think, they have to follow me and to listen to me,” De Zerbi said.
He demanded a positive attitude from his squad ahead of a crucial trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers next week. “I have no time to see negative people, to see sad players or sad assistants,” he added.
Tottenham have not won a league match since December, a run of form that has seen them plummet into the bottom three. Despite the bleak outlook, De Zerbi called for courage and attacking intent from his team.
“Now we need courage, now we need to win the game and to win the game we have to be positive,” he stated. Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler believes Spurs have the quality to escape, citing their “unbelievable players.”
The spectre of a first relegation since 1977 now looms over last season’s Europa League winners. Their remaining fixtures include matches against Aston Villa, Leeds United, Chelsea and Everton.
