Roberto De Zerbi has reflected on the work his Tottenham players have put in to get within touching distance of safety and has revealed how they will approach tonight’s London derby.
Tottenham have an opportunity to seal their Premier League status with a good result at Stamford Bridge this evening after West Ham fell to a 3-1 loss to Newcastle on Sunday.
It is a big turnaround from a few weeks ago, when it was difficult to see where the Spurs’ next win would come from.
Even after getting just one point from his first two games in charge, De Zerbi was confident that Tottenham would avoid relegation, and the Spurs boss has now explained how his side has managed the turnaround.
Roberto De Zerbi insists the Tottenham players deserve to survive
Over recent months, many pundits have accused the Spurs players of lacking fight, but De Zerbi insists that it is their hard work that has led to a revival.
The Italian remarked that the Tottenham players have suffered a lot due to the team’s predicament this season and asserted that they deserve to stay up.
When asked how his side has managed to turn their fortunes around at the business end of the campaign, De Zerbi told Football.London: “They worked very well every day during the week. In football, there are no secrets.
“The secret in football is working hard during the week, improving all characteristics to play a good game, style of play, offensive and defensive phases, the right player in the right position, increase the confidence, make individual meetings with the players, but there are no secrets.”
“The players deserve to make the points and stay up because they have suffered a lot and right now they are suffering for the situation but in the end I think they deserve to be happy.”
De Zerbi insists Spurs will not play for a draw at Chelsea
Tottenham only need a point this evening to be all but assured of their safety, given their vastly superior goal difference to West Ham.
However, De Zerbi shut down suggestions that his side would play for a draw, making it clear that he wants them to go out and try to beat Chelsea.
When asked if Tottenham could play for a draw at Stamford Bridge, the 46-year-old said: “No, no. Stop. We can’t start the game thinking to draw. We have to start the game, and we prepare the game, and we speak in the meeting, to win the games. Both games. And then football is… we don’t know. But for sure we try to win.”
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