Premier League: Tottenham still have a say, insists stubborn De Zerbi

Tottenham Hotspur's Italian head coach Roberto De Zerbi was seen gesturing on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton and Hove Albion at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on April 18, 2026, as his side struggled to secure a win.

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Despite taking the lead twice, Tottenham was left with a bitterly disappointing 2-2 draw against Brighton, with Spurs manager Roberto De Zerbi stating that his team is "not finished yet" in their fight to avoid relegation.

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Xavi Simons' impressive strike in the 77th minute had appeared to secure a crucial three points for Tottenham, but Georginio Rutter's late goal ensured the match ended in a draw, leaving Spurs mired in the Premier League relegation zone.

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The result has left Tottenham 18th in the Premier League, just one point behind West Ham and two behind Nottingham Forest, with only five games remaining in the season, and the threat of their first relegation since 1977 looming large.

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As the ninth richest club in the world, according to Deloitte, Tottenham's predicament is all the more surprising, and former Brighton and Marseille boss De Zerbi acknowledged that the draw felt like a defeat, but expressed confidence in his team's ability to win their remaining games.

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De Zerbi emphasized that his team has the quality to win all five of their remaining games, stating "It's not finished yet, we have another five games, it's tough" and "And this team is able to win five games in a row."

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The Italian coach urged his players to have faith in him, saying "They have to follow me, they have not to think, they have to follow me and to listen to me" and emphasized the need for his team to stay focused on their next game against Wolverhampton.

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De Zerbi also stressed the importance of a positive mindset, telling his players to report to training on Monday with a smile, as he has "no time to see negative people, to see sad players or sad assistants."

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Tottenham's remaining schedule includes matches against Aston Villa, Leeds, Chelsea, and Everton, following their game against Wolverhampton, and the squad will need to draw on all their strength to survive the relegation battle.

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With their last league win dating back to December, Tottenham's chances of survival are looking increasingly bleak, as they struggle to find their winning form, while their rivals, such as Forest and West Ham, continue to pick up vital points.

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Leeds, meanwhile, have moved eight points clear of danger with their 3-0 win over Wolves on Saturday, and De Zerbi recognizes that his team needs to adopt a more courageous approach, saying "Now we need courage, now we need to win the game and to win the game we have to be positive and to play football with the ball."

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Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler, whose team is chasing a European spot, believes that Tottenham has the quality to survive, saying "They have unbelievable players in their squad" and "They have in their front line players who can make a difference with one action, and that's what they showed today."