Tottenham Hotspur boss Roberto De Zerbi was buzzing after Xavi Simons’ Goal of the Season candidate looked to have moved Spurs out of the bottom three only for Brighton & Hove Albion to equalize for a draw in North London.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium saw Spurs go ahead through Pedro Porro’s header of a Simons chipped cross but sunk level by a gorgeous Kaoru Mitoma volley before halftime.
MORE — Spurs v Brighton recap, video highlights
Fortunately, Simons chugged onward in a Man of the Match performance punctuated by his sensational cross-goal finish in the 77th minute.
But it wasn’t done, as Georginio Rutter scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time to ensure a point for Brighton.
It nearly pulled Spurs out of the relegation zone and De Zerbi’s words will be worth watching after the whistle.
Roberto De Zerbi reaction to Xavi Simons golazo, Tottenham Hotspur’s late heartbreak
Thoughts on the game? “I’m sorry for the result for the players because they are suffering so much and we deserved to win the game against one great Brighton — a big congratulations to their style and level of players but especially in that moment of the game we cannot concede that goal to Georginio Rutter.”
“I’m positive and I am proud of my players. They played a fantastic game with character and spirit and what I asked of them to play in this stadium for this club. We have to be stronger than this result, move on to the next game versus Wolverhampton Wanderers and try to win the game. If we are strong like today, we can compete again.”
What did you tell them in the team room? “I said to be strong, to follow because I want to help them. I want that they can change the mentality because the mentality in this moment is the most important part. It’s too easy to think negative. We need to be focused on the performance, to work and to find the condition to win the game. I am positive because I am coach of Tottenham Hotspur and I know my players, my people, and I believe in them.”
What did you think of the stadium and crowd? “I know we are fighting to stay in the Premier League, a very difficult moment but we are lucky — everyone of us — to work in this club with these fans. It was incredible atmosphere today. You could think we were fighting to qualify for the Champions League, not relegation, because of the fans. We will give our best. If we are, it’s not finished yet.”
What did you see from your team today? “Today I watched signs, blood, qualities, organization with and without the ball. I watched the qualities of my players and the right spirit. I watched everything we need to reach our target and to fight until the end of the season.”