Roberto De Zerbi admitted Tottenham “didn’t play a great game” after watching his side grind out a 1-1 draw with Leeds but insisted the fighting spirit is there as the finish line approaches.
The Whites are already safe. Safe. Relaxed. Playing with freedom.
Spurs? Not so much.
Mathys Tel produced a moment of genuine brilliance to put the home side ahead. Then the teenager tried an overhead kick in his own box yes, his own box and gifted Leeds a penalty. Dominic Calvert Lewin made no mistake. Points shared.
For De Zerbi, it was a night of mixed emotions.
‘The pressure, the crucial part, we suffered too much’
The Italian didn’t hide from the performance.
“We didn’t play a great game. We played a good game,” he said.
“I think we deserved to win anyway but maybe the pressure, the crucial game, the crucial part of the season, we suffered too much.”
That’s the reality of a relegation fight. It’s not pretty. It’s not stylish. It’s about surviving.
“I am happy because I watched my players with the right spirit, with the right mentality.”
But the mistakes? They’re piling up.
“We made too many mistakes. If we want to win, we have to reduce the mistakes, but we know before this game it will be tough until the end of the season, until the last game. It is tough for us and tough for everyone.”
‘The referee was not calm today’
De Zerbi was asked about the Maddison penalty shout. He hadn’t seen it properly. And he wasn’t about to start a war.
“I did not see honestly. I didn’t watch the Maddison penalty, maybe yes, maybe no. I heard my assistant, but I don’t want to come inside a polemic.”
Then came the interesting bit.
“The referee was not calm today. Maybe he felt the pressure of yesterday? He is human and it can happen, but no problem. He was good on the pitch.”
Pressure of yesterday. That’s a nod to the Arsenal West Ham game, the title race, the whole chaotic backdrop of a Premier League run in. Referees feel it too.
‘I will kiss him and hug him’ De Zerbi defends Tel
Mathys Tel scored a stunner. Then he made a mistake that could have cost his team two points.
De Zerbi wasn’t having any criticism.
“I am sorry for the penalty we conceded because Mathys Tel scored a great goal. He is very young and it is not a problem for me. I am happy for the attitude and mentality.”
Then the money quote.
“[Mathys Tel] is young and is a talent. I will kiss him and hug him. He doesn’t need too many words. He was sorry for the mistake, and it can happen to a young player.”
That’s management. Protect your young players. Build them up. Don’t throw them under the bus.
Maddison back, De Zerbi cautious
James Maddison returned from an ACL injury that’s kept him out since August. That’s massive.
“He is a different player,” De Zerbi said. “We have had a lot of injuries, but we are good enough to stay up with these players.”
But the manager warned that fighting relegation isn’t the same as chasing titles.
“We didn’t play well but fighting relegation is like this, you cannot play all games calm. We have to improve and change the habits, fighting relegation is different to fighting for the Champions League.”
The bottom line
Tottenham have two games left. Chelsea. Everton. Four points from those two would almost certainly secure safety.
De Zerbi knows what’s required.
“We deserve to stay up, and we fight until the end. When you fight relegation, you need to stay strong not with the legs but with the head.”
Leeds played a great game. De Zerbi admitted that. But Spurs are still alive. Still kicking. Still in the fight.
And sometimes, that’s all that matters.
