Tottenham Hotspur supporters watched as Newcastle United got the job done against rivals West Ham United, taking them down 3-1 thanks to two goals from young player William Osula. The Hammers are now two points behind Tottenham in the final spot to go down to the EFL Championship with the fates of Burnley and Wolves already sealed.
So now, with Newcastle walking away with a big win over West Ham, the ball is in Spurs court to skate to safety in the Premier League relegation battle. All they need now to guarantee their safety is a solitary point against Chelsea and Everton in these final two games of the 2025/26 season.
That's it. One solitary point, as Roberto De Zerbi has gotten Spurs to believe in themselves again and on the verge of safety. But Chelsea are a tough opponent with a lot on the line themselves as they welcome Xabi Alonso to the fold, and they need all the points they can get in order to stay in some sort of European football.
Tottenham are so close to safety
For Tottenham Hotspur, the strategy to get the point they need against Chelsea and rest easy against Everton is simple. Defend space and win the battle off the ball. Chelsea have the superior players, though they are not good enough to dominate teams in the Premier League. Tottenham are not going to win the possession game against the Blues when comparing these two midfields, but they can't play like cowards like they did under Thomas Frank.
What Spurs need to do is make sure they are compact centrally so that the best players on Chelsea, who have the quickness and technical ability to manufacture shooting opportunities from nothing, don't have those pockets of space they need to interchange and score.
Spurs need to be compact defensively, safe in possession, and progress to avoid absorbing pressure in their half for long periods but without taking unnecessary risks on the ball. Poor passes through the middle of the pitch, for example, are ripe for the Chelsea midfielders and attackers to pick off and turn into easy scoring opportunities.
What Tottenham need to do in order to get a point is simple but not necessarily easy. They need to be smart, disciplined, fundamentally sound, and brave without being pig headed. They shouldn't play for a draw, but Tottenham do not need to risk it all either. Roberto De Zerbi needs to play his usual brand of football in this relegation fight with more of a focus on constant defensive rotations and togetherness, and Spurs can do this.