“I don't want crying people around me”

Ashley Davis02/05/2026

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Article by Mihai Șovei – Published Saturday, 02 May 2026, 10:44 / Updated Saturday, 02 May 2026 10:44

Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi (46) has issued a rousing call for unity in the fight to stay in the Premier League, saying the team are “not relegated yet” and calling for an end to the “negative voices” around the club.

Although they got their first win in the Premier League since 2026 last weekend, against Wolves (1-0), the Londoners remain two points above the relegation line. The task has become even more difficult with injuries to key players such as Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke. However, ahead of Sunday's 9pm kick-off at Aston Villa, De Zerbi has shown he has no time for pessimism.

Roberto De Zerbi believes in saving Tottenham from relegation

The coach emphasized the attitude he expects from his team in order to achieve the goal.

“We have to die on the field. We have to play and we have to fight. Losers cry, losers think negatively. I don't want people next to me who cry or who think differently from me,” he said, according to abola.pt.

De Zerbi identified the main challenge as a mental one.

“The most important challenge now is to silence the voice within us. Within the players, the technical staff and the fans.

This voice produces negative thoughts and says that we are unlucky, that we have too many injuries, that we lost Xavi Simons, who was one of our best and most important players in the last two games,” he added.

The Tottenham coach also wanted to praise the squad he has at his disposal, even with the forced absences.

“If Solanke and Simons are injured, we can play Kolo Muani, Tel, Richarlison, they are not weaker players than the rest. They are different, with distinct characteristics, but they are very good players. We have Pedro Porro, Udogie, Micky van de Ven, Bentancur, Palhinha, Gallagher,” concluded the Italian technician.

Schedule of decisive matches for Tottenham: