Tottenham Hotspur's crisis has deepened - again. Time really is running out now, but Roberto De Zerbi will remain confident in his capacity as a head coach, in his ability to turn things around for the relegation-threatened Londoners.
While Spurs are 18th in the Premier League, two points from safety, it could just take one victory to secure a turnaround and create a base for a late-season escape act.
Of course, self-belief is not at a low ebb, but non-existent across the first-team squad, and this crisis of confidence is the main reason that relegation is on the cards.
So many have factored in, but goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has arguably been the worst of the lot from this standpoint, and he needs to be sold this summer.
Why Spurs need to sell Guglielmo Vicario
Vicario is approaching the end of his third season at Tottenham, and it's clear at this stage that he isn't cutting the mustard down N17, harangued for his performances this season. Nigel Reo-Coker said that saying Vicario is having "a tough time is an understatement" back in December, and his fortunes still haven't improved.
Currently sidelined after surgery on a hernia problem, Vicario is expected to return before the end of the season, but there's little question that he must be shipped off this summer.
Frankly, the Italian shot-stopper has been too far below the expected standard this season, too error-prone and unconvincing between the sticks.
While he is currently sidelined, Vicario probably shouldn't be recalled to his number one berth next season, especially with Antonin Kinsky responding well to De Zerbi's show of faith during their most recent Premier League defeat.
The 29-year-old needs to be sold this summer, allowing ENIC Group to rebuild from the back.
However, Vicario isn't the only one in line for the chop, with an even more high-profile member of the defensive system surely set to leave his post this summer.
Spurs' new Ledley King needs to go
What Tottenham would do for a fully-fit Ledley King in the prime of his career right now. Instead, they have Cristian Romero, who may well have played his final game for the Lilywhites after injuring his knee during the recent defeat to Sunderland.
It was an incredibly unfortunate setback for a centre-half who just can't seem to sustain a run of games in the Premier League, and given that an exit from the club is on the cards, he could really be the new King, who spent his whole career at the club but only hit the 30-appearance mark in a single league season on two occasions, such were his fitness problems.
A commanding and intelligent defender, King was excellent on the ball and a skilled leader. In that, he eclipsed Romero, who has been acknowledged by Spurs insider John Wenham as "the closest we have had to Ledley King in terms of his impact".
In truth, there's no argument that Romero is Tottenham's star centre-back, miles ahead of Micky van de Ven, whose questionable defending is covered up at times by athleticism and energy for the ages.
Tottenham value their skipper at £87m, but it's going to be hard to secure a sale for something approaching that figure - especially if fears of relegation become a horrifying reality.
That said, Romero is one of the most valuable members of De Zerbi's outfit, and interest from the likes of Liverpool and Atletico Madrid does suggest that ENIC will be able to engineer a big-money exit.
Of course, there have also been claims that the player has a release clause in his Lilywhites contract, but whatever the reality of his situation, it's pretty clear that he won't play in Tottenham white next term.
But given that Chris Waddle - speaking to Football FanCast - suggested that the Argentina international "never really wanted to be at Tottenham", it's fair to say that this is probably the breaking point for a talented defender but poor leader with a hot-headed streak that leaves too much to be desired.
Like King before him, Romero is one of the most talented defenders in the Premier League. However, his injury record mounts a pre-existing issue to keep his cool. He misses too many games for different reasons, and he needs to be the first out of the door this summer, ushering in a new era for an outfit in decline.