Roberto De Zerbi admitted that changing the mentality of his struggling Tottenham Hotspur side will be more important than tactical adjustments after his first game in charge ended in a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland.
The loss that came at the Stadium of Light was getting longer Tottenham are without a win in the Premier League for 14 games and left them languishing in 18th place. With just six games remaining, Spurs are now staring down a real possibility of relegation for the first time since 1977.
De Zerbi, who replaced Igor Tudor after his brief 44-day spell in charge, acknowledged there was little time left in the season to introduce major changes to the team’s playing style. Instead, the Italian manager stressed that restoring belief and confidence in the squad will be key to their hopes of survival.
“My task now is not to change the style of play. I did two or three things with the ball, two or three things without the ball, but the decisive part is not with the ball or without the ball. It is in our mentality to be positive,” said De Zerbi after the match.
Despite showing flashes of struggle, Tottenham again lacked a top required at this level. They have picked up just one point from their last eight games, dragging them deep into the relegation zone. After 32 games, Spurs have 30 points, two behind West Ham United in 17th place.
De Zerbi insisted that unity and belief in the group will be crucial in the coming weeks. “We have to find the right energy, the right spirit. If they stay with me during the week, they will find a positive coach because I believe in them,” he said, adding that the players can struggle mentally under the pressure of the current situation.
Adding to Tottenham’s problems was the injury to captain Cristian Romero, who left the field in tears after a collision with goalkeeper Antonín Kinski. The incident happened shortly after Sunderland had taken the lead thanks to Nordi Mukiele’s deflected effort.
In another crucial clash against Brighton & Hove Albion, De Zerbi faces a race against time to boost the performance and morale of a team desperate to avoid the drop.
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
12 Apr 2026 23:27 IST
