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Former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara did not hold back in his assessment of the current squad following the narrow defeat at the Stadium of Light.

Reacting after the game on X, the pundit delivered a scathing review of the collective performance, describing his former team as "woeful" and lacking the required fight for a survival battle.

The frustration peaked when O'Hara singled out centre-forward Dominic Solanke individual for a brutal zero rating, reflecting a display that offered nothing to the cause. He also dished out 1/10 ratings to both Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani, along with scores of just two for Conor Gallagher and Destiny Udogie.

In a separate tweet, O'Hara wrote: "Disgrace of a performance again from Spurs, the lack of quality from these players is unbelievable I’ve seen better non league performances, don’t see anything to say we’re capable of staying up."

While the fans and pundits expressed their fury, new head coach De Zerbi offered a curious perspective. The former Brighton boss suggested that his role might be more therapeutic than technical in the coming weeks.

In a surprising post-match interview, the Italian said in bizarre claim about his players: "I can be a big brother, father, they don't need a coach. They don't need to improve football. They can play better and they will play better once we reach a different level of confidence. My work is not so much on the pitch because they are good guys and I am sorry for them. I want to give them confidence in what they need."

The match itself was decided by a cruel piece of fortune on the hour mark. After a cagey first half where Tottenham struggled to create meaningful openings, Sunderland found the breakthrough when Nordi Mukiele’s shot took a significant deflection off a defender, leaving goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky with no chance.

De Zerbi insisted his side were the victims of bad luck rather than bad play, telling reporters: "Sorry because we didn't deserve to lose the game. We played a good game, maybe not enough to win but we were unlucky in a few situations in the first half. I cannot say anything to players because they gave their best in terms of attitude and spirit."

The afternoon went from bad to worse for the visitors when captain Cristian Romero was forced off following a heavy collision with his own goalkeeper. The Argentine defender was visibly emotional, leaving the field in tears, which has sparked immediate fears regarding a long-term layoff that could impact both club and country.

With Tottenham’s winless streak in the league now stretching back 105 days, the potential loss of their most influential leader is a catastrophe De Zerbi can ill afford.

In the aftermath of the defeat at the Stadium of Light, De Zerbi raised eyebrows by suggesting that his tactical input might not be the primary requirement for a squad currently lacking in confidence. Despite his new team languishing down in 18th in the table, the former Brighton and Marseille boss insisted that the players' technical ability is not the issue.

"I can be a big brother, father, they don't need a coach," De Zerbi told the BBC. "They don't need to improve football. They can play better and they will play better once we reach a different level of confidence. My work is not so much on the pitch because they are good guys and I am sorry for them. I want to give them confidence in what they need."

The match itself was a frustration-filled afternoon for the visitors. The game remained deadlocked until the hour mark when Nordi Mukiele’s deflected shot wrong-footed Antonin Kinsky to put Sunderland ahead. The hosts held on for the win, but De Zerbi was pleased with his side's application.

"Sorry because we didn't deserve to lose the game," De Zerbi said during his post-match press conference. "We played a good game, maybe not enough to win but we were unlucky in a few situations in the first half. I cannot say anything to players because they gave their best in terms of attitude and spirit. We can play better for sure and you can feel better. We have to work on that."

To make matters worse for Spurs, captain Cristian Romero was forced off the pitch in tears following a collision with Kinsky. The Argentine defender appeared devastated as he made his way to the dressing room, sparking fears over his availability for both Tottenham's survival fight and the upcoming World Cup. With Spurs winless streak in the Premier League now stretching to 14 games, the potential loss of their leader would be a significant psychological hit.

De Zerbi remains adamant that a single result could flip the momentum. He praised the tactical discipline Spurs showed in the first half and urged his players to maintain their belief despite the 105-day wait for a league victory.

"Tactically, we played a good first half. With the ball and without the ball. We don't have confidence to play great football but we did what we have been working on this week. The players can play better if they are feeling confident. Absolutely, I'm sure if we are able to win a game then everything will change," he concluded.

The incident occurred shortly after Sunderland had taken the lead through a deflected Nordi Mukiele strike. In a desperate attempt to recover a loose ball, Romero appeared to be nudged by Black Cats forward Brian Brobbey, causing the Argentine international to lose his footing and collide with his own goalkeeper, Antonin Kinsky.

The impact was immediately identified as serious by those on the pitch. Sunderland midfielder Noah Sadiki was seen frantically gesturing for medical personnel to rush onto the field as both Tottenham players remained down. The Stadium of Light fell silent as trainers attended to the pair for several minutes, with backup goalkeeper Brandon Austin initially readied to replace the struggling Kinsky.

While Kinsky was eventually able to continue after having a protective bandage wrapped around his head, the situation was more distressing for Romero. The Argentine World Cup winner was visibly shaken and eventually helped to his feet, but wasn't able to continue, and could not hide his despair as he made his way toward the touchline.

The sight of the usually uncompromising defender in floods of tears resonated with the travelling support. It marks the second major injury scare for Romero in recent weeks, following a concussion-related substitution during a high-stakes Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid last month.

To make matters worse for the visitors, the debut of De Zerbi was further marred by a frustrating intervention from VAR.

Before the injury drama, Tottenham thought they had a lifeline when referee Rob Jones pointed to the spot after Randal Kolo Muani appeared to be brought down by Omar Alderete and Luke O’Nien.

However, after a recommendation to review the footage at the pitchside monitor, Jones opted to reverse his original decision, much to the anger of the Spurs bench.

Mukiele’s 61st-minute goal, which took a massive deflection to wrong-foot Kinsky, ultimately proved to be the winner. The result leaves Tottenham languishing in 18th place and in very real danger of relegation, especially if they now lose Romero for any significant period.

Tottenham will need to win their next game when they host De Zerbi's former club Brighton next Saturday, having slipped two points adrift of safety.

Tottenham duo Antonin Kinski and Cristian Romero collided violently during the side’s match against Sunderland.

Trailing 1-0 to Sunderland thanks to Nordi Mokele’s opener, the visitors were already under pressure.

Moments later, Sunderland’s Bryan Robey appeared to nudge Romero, sending him barreling into Kinský as the pair raced back to collect the ball.

Sunderland’s Noah Sadki immediately signalled for the medical team.

After lengthy treatment on the pitch, an emotional Romero left the field in tears.

Brandon Austin was readied as a potential replacement for Kinský, with concerns over the Czech goalkeeper’s condition.

Kinski, however, passed a head injury assessment and returned wearing a bandage.

For Romero, it was a harrowing flashback: he had already been substituted against Atlético Madrid last month amid concussion concerns.

Supporters offered words of encouragement as the clearly distraught defender departed.

One supporter wrote on X: “His team are already in the relegation zone, and now he’s suffered a nasty injury – you can’t help but feel sorry for him.”

Another supporter added: “Yeah, I wasn’t prepared to see Romero crying… it broke me.”

That incident came after Tottenham had been awarded a penalty, only for the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to overturn the decision.

Kolo Muani had appeared to be brought down inside the box by Omar Alderte and Luke O’Neill.

After consulting the monitor, referee Rob Jones reversed his initial call.

Mokeli’s 61st-minute strike, heavily deflected, proved decisive as Sunderland secured a 1-0 victory.

The result left Spurs 18th with 30 points, firmly in the relegation zone.

The defeat leaves Spurs 18th on 30 points, in real danger of relegation.

(Read also) ... A predicament threatens the comeback ... A suffocating crisis puts Barcelona’s dream against Atlético in jeopardy.

In his first interview with club channels, De Zerbi was asked to elaborate on his 'philosophy'. Given his previous teams all played an attractive brand of football and Spurs are generally a side associated with a fun if sometimes naive style, this was a natural question, but it was one the Italian batted away.

"I think it's not the right moment to speak about my philosophy for football. I'm here now, at the end of the season, because we have to win games. And in football, the style of play, the tactical disposition are important. [But] it's a mentality and I would like to help the players reach the best mentality we can show," he said.

De Zerbi is seemingly aware that not every part of Tottenham's performances for these final seven games will be perfect, rather it is now a time to get them back to their best from a mental perspective, something he elaborated on in an interview with NBC Sports.

"The players of Tottenham I consider very good players, normally. The moment is very tough for us," he said. "In this moment, the mental part is crucial. There are just seven games and we don't have enough time. I don't want to give too many instructions. This team has changed three coaches this season, I think they have to build a new mentality.

"We have the qualities to get out from this moment, but for sure the mental aspect is the most important."

When Tudor walked into Tottenham in February, he commented that he had never encountered a situation like the one just inherited. De Zerbi probably felt the same way on his first day, and even worse after it was confirmed this week Mohammed Kudus, who he tried to sign at Brighton, could miss the rest of the season after suffering a setback.

"I started with not big luck!" De Zerbi boomed. "Kudus was in my head a crucial player, especially for the position. But we have to look forward. I think we have a lot of very good attackers."

Rodrigo Bentancur is back in team training but not quite ready to play Premier League minutes again, while James Maddison is continuing his recovery from an ACL injury after Tudor claimed the playmaker could return before the season is out.

Sweden captain Dejan Kulusevski remains sidelined with a mystery knee issue, Wilson Odobert is unlikely to feature again in 2026 with his own ACL issue and senior statesman Ben Davies may well have played his final game for the club.

However, De Zerbi issued a rallying cry on Friday: "We have enough to fight, to play, to make points."

The Hotspur Way training facility on the edge of north London hasn't been a particularly happy place over the past couple of years. Even during Spurs' run to Europa League glory under Ange Postecoglou last season, the mood was dampened by their dismal Premier League campaign, which saw them tumble to 17th.

It's notable, then, that the Independent is already reporting that many Tottenham players 'love' the training sessions De Zerbi has put on for them so far. There is said to be an understanding as to why the likes of Pep Guardiola have been so impressed with his coaching.

This is precisely the sort of impact that Spurs would have been hoping for behind the scenes. They now need this sentiment to translate into results on the pitch. But given performances have followed the trend of how happy the team is, this is undoubtedly a promising sign.

There was a school of thought that all Tottenham needed to become a bit more robust at the back was for first-choice centre-backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven to remain fit. Well, the two have been available for most Spurs games this season and the leak in defence has only gotten worse.

Part of the problem, particularly under Frank, was this partnership was pushed to its limit. These are two players used to playing in a high line and with possession, rather than in a deep block and merely defending the box.

This culture of fearing the ball is best evidenced in the raw numbers. The Athletic calculated that Spurs have given up a Premier League-high 39 shots from errors, yet neither Romero nor Van de Ven were among the many, many main culprits in racking up that number.

De Zerbi's inverse style to Frank's will too lead to errors, but so long as Spurs have a clear idea of how they want to play football, they should be a more coherent team for it at both ends of the pitch.

With Guglielmo Vicario set for a short spell on the sidelines following hernia surgery, back-up goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky is set for a run back in the starting line-up and is in line for his first appearances since his disastrous 17-minute cameo against Atletico Madrid.

In theory, the Czech is more comfortable with the ball at his feet than Vicario and should be better suited to De Zerbi's brand of football so long as he's playing on a properly watered pitch, but it's pivotal that De Zerbi is able to rebuild his confidence in particular.

Of Tottenham's deep-lying midfielders, they have three options in particular primed for the present and future.

Jack-of-all-trades Archie Gray is one of the few contenders for the club's in-house player of the year award - should it not go to the fans in true Queens Park Rangers 2012-13 style. Where this Tottenham team has shrunk in charisma and character, Gray has seemed emboldened by their dance with death, turning in his best performances when the chips are down.

Tudor found that Gray worked well in a midfield pivot with Pape Matar Sarr, who, with 137 appearances for Spurs, is among the relative seniors of the squad, despite not turning 24 until next season. Through his three full seasons in the first team, Tottenham have always looked far more functional with Sarr in the XI than out of it, owing to his aggression on both sides of the ball and ability to carry it up the pitch into the final third.

The return of Lucas Bergvall from injury is a timely boost. Like Sarr, the young Swede is capable of beating several players off the dribble, though under Frank this was misconstrued as the characteristics for an attacker. De Zerbi will surely utilise Bergvall in a deeper position.

At his first press conference on Friday, De Zerbi also made mention of his admiration of January signing Conor Gallagher, who is yet to win a Premier League game since joining Spurs. "I want to see again the same Gallagher I loved in Chelsea time," the Italian revealed.

De Zerbi should only really turn to Yves Bissouma, whose contract is set to expire, and on-loan Joao Palhinha in a state of further emergency. They are not better than the other options listed, nor are they players for the long-term future of the club.

Bringing in De Zerbi over another short-term manager suggests someone at the club has finally figured out the team's problems are as much to do with the attack as the defence. Frank's Spurs seldom looked threatening, while Tudor's Tottenham only showed signs of life in their 3-2 win against Atletico Madrid and 1-1 draw at Liverpool.

But lifting the shackles of the defence-first mantra will be key to unlocking this team's true potential. Xavi Simons was bafflingly dropped by Tudor after finally showing some signs of promise, while Mathys Tel has finally nailed down a starting spot. De Zerbi named both players as those he was keen on working with closely, with the latter a former target of his at Marseille.

In front of them, Dominic Solanke and Richarlison are proven Premier League strikers both capable of going on scoring bursts over a short period. Kudus' absence means Randal Kolo Muani is likely to be deployed on the right wing, though Tudor did find relative joy in using right-back Pedro Porro and his excellent crossing and passing range there.

It has at last dawned on Tottenham they'll have to fight and scrap their way out as the protagonists of their story, rather than let games drift away from them as bystanders. De Zerbi needs to keep his emotions in check and avoid another of his infamous outbursts for just seven matches before resetting again in the summer. This Spurs side shouldn't be among the three worst in the Premier League and if they play at their true level, they should survive.

Seven matches of not shooting yourselves in the foot, starting with Sunderland away on Sunday. How hard can it be? Take it away, Tottenham.

Kane ended up scoring 280 goals for Spurs, surpassing Jimmy Greaves as the most prolific scorer in their history. Despite his reputation as one of the best players in the world, the England captain was unable to help the north Londoners end their trophy drought. With only one year remaining on his contract, he left Tottenham for Bayern in 2023, though it wasn't until 2025 that he got his hands on silverware, firing the Bavarians back to the Bundesliga title. With Bayern on the cusp of retaining the German championship and among the favourites in the Champions League, there is talk that Kane could even become the next winner of the Ballon d'Or.

In an interview with the Sunday Times, Fernandes claimed that while trophies shouldn't be the measure of a player's quality, he admired Kane for stepping out of his comfort zone.

"We've seen many Ballon d'Or winners who haven't won the Champions League. They still won because they were the best," Fernandes said.

"Obviously, it's easier for me to say because I haven't won many trophies. And trophies are important. But at the same time, you don't play by yourself. It's not tennis.

"If he had stayed [at Tottenham] another one or two seasons, he'd have been the best goalscorer ever in the Premier League. So, would he have been a legend or not? He would.

"He decided to go to Bayern and the decision is good because he knows he has a big chance of winning trophies. And now we're talking about Harry Kane that is scoring the same amount of goals he was scoring at Tottenham, but he might win a Ballon d'Or now because he’s going to win trophies."

West Ham moved out of the bottom three in emphatic style, securing a 4-0 demolition of Wolves at the London Stadium. Braces from Konstantinos Mavropanos and Taty Castellanos ensured a vital three points for the Hammers, taking them up to 17th place and two points clear of the drop zone.

While the mood in east London was one of relief, the result had dire consequences for Tottenham in the north of the capital. Spurs have now been pushed down into 18th position, marking the first time in 17 years that the club has found itself in the Premier League relegation places. The last time they sat this low was in January 2009 under Harry Redknapp, following a defeat to Wigan Athletic.

The timing could not be more critical for incoming manager Roberto De Zerbi, who is set to take charge of his first game against Sunderland on Sunday.

He becomes the third man to occupy the Spurs dugout this season, following the unsuccessful spells of Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor. De Zerbi’s sole mandate is to arrest a slide that has seen the club fail to win any of their last 13 league matches.

The statistical breakdown of Tottenham's season makes for grim reading for the Lilywhite faithful. Of those 13 winless games, eight have ended in defeat, and the club has not tasted victory at home since early December.

For West Ham, the victory over Wolves represents a significant step toward securing a 15th consecutive season in the Premier League. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo, who replaced Graham Potter earlier in the campaign, has managed to steer the ship through choppy waters in 2026, picking up crucial points against the likes of Manchester City and Spurs themselves.

The Hammers now face a testing run-in that includes three London derbies and a daunting clash against league leaders Arsenal. However, with their fate now back in their own hands, the momentum shifted significantly on Friday night. The four-goal cushion not only provided three points but also a timely boost to their goal difference as the season nears its conclusion.

While West Ham look upward, Tottenham must navigate a fixture list that offers little room for error. After the trip to Sunderland, De Zerbi’s men faces Brighton and Wolves before a daunting final month. Their May schedule includes high-stakes encounters against Aston Villa, Chelsea, and a potentially season-defining final day clash against Everton.

The prospect of Championship football is becoming an uncomfortable reality for a club of Tottenham's stature. With only seven games remaining in the 2025-26 campaign, the pressure on the new management and the playing staff has reached a boiling point.

Maddison, who has been sidelined for 247 days, was seen in the clips performing strength exercises aimed at rebuilding the power in his legs following a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Sharp-eyed supporters quickly pointed out what appeared to be a significant discrepancy in muscle mass between his legs. Some fans suggested that his right leg looked noticeably thinner than his left, leading to fears that his recovery might be stalling as Spurs battle against a shock relegation threat in the Premier League.

Not one to let speculation linger, Maddison responded by sharing a front-on view of his legs to prove that his muscle development is symmetrical, placing the blame for the confusion squarely on the shoulders of the club's media department.

He captioned the post with a playful dig at the person behind the lens, stating: "Admin needs to work on the angles of videoing... @spursofficial."

Before his recent departure, former Spurs interim manager Igor Tudor provided a glass-half-full assessment of Maddison's condition. The Croatian coach had witnessed Maddison’s transition from the treatment room back onto the grass at Hotspur Way, noting that the player was beginning to rediscover his touch.

Speaking to football.london last month, Tudor said: "Maddison is already doing interesting things as well with the ball. Sprinting as well. I saw him. He is positive. He is positive."

The arrival of Roberto De Zerbi as the new permanent manager has brought a fresh wave of optimism to Spurs, and Maddison appears eager to work under the Italian. The midfielder was notably quick to react to the technician's appointment, "liking" the official announcement video on social media within minutes of it going live.

While De Zerbi has yet to confirm whether Maddison will feature in the final games of the current campaign, his presence would be a massive boost for a side sitting just one point above the drop zone. Tottenham will play their first game under the new coach away at Sunderland this weekend.

Vicario's time in north London appears to be coming to an end after just two seasons. Reports suggest that the 27-year-old has already reached an agreement to facilitate his departure during the upcoming transfer window. Italian giants Inter are leading the race to bring the Azzurri star back to Serie A, as Spurs brace for a significant squad overhaul.

The goalkeeper is currently sidelined following hernia surgery and remains a major doubt for new manager Roberto De Zerbi’s first game in charge against Sunderland this weekend.

With Tottenham mired in a shocking relegation battle, Vicario is thought to be seeking a project that offers stability and the guaranteed prospect of Champions League football, something Spurs look unlikely to provide in the near future.

According toThe Sun, Tottenham are monitoring Trafford at Manchester City, To fill the impending void between the sticks.

The 22-year-old England international returned to the Etihad Stadium in a £27 million move last summer following Burnley's relegation, but he has struggled for regular game time behind summer signing Gianluigi Donnarumma.

While he started in City's recent 4-0 FA Cup win over Liverpool, Trafford has not featured in the Premier League since the Italian's arrival.

Spurs face stiff competition for the youngster's signature, with Newcastle United and Aston Villa also keeping tabs on his situation. Newcastle were close to signing Trafford last year and are still considered to be in a strong position if City decide to cash in.

However, the lure of becoming the undisputed No.1 in the English capital could tempt Trafford to join De Zerbi's revolution.

The appointment of De Zerbi has brought immediate questions regarding the club's long-term tactical direction, particularly in goal. The Italian manager worked with Bart Verbruggen at Brighton, and the Dutchman is another name reportedly high on the club's shortlist. If Vicario is unable to feature against Sunderland, De Zerbi may have to turn to Antonin Kinsky, who is desperate for redemption after being substituted just 17 minutes into a recent Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid.

The Italian boss was recently appointed as Igor Tudor's replacement, tasked with pulling the north London side away from the Premier League relegation in the final weeks of the season.

Tottenham’s decision to turn to De Zerbi has divided opinion, with club legend Sheringham questioning if the Italian's abrasive nature is what the club needs right now.

Speaking to BestBettingSites, the former England international highlighted the manager's explosive personality as a potential hurdle in the locker room.

"I like him, first of all. I like him as a manager, if I’m perfectly honest," Sheringham stated. "I don’t know whether he’s the right fit for Tottenham. He’s very outspoken, very Latin temperament, quite narky at times. Says how he feels, says what he demands from people. I don’t know whether that’s the right sort of person in charge in the long run, but I’m excited by what he gives you."

Despite his concerns over De Zerbi’s personality, Sheringham remains a fan of the tactical innovation that saw the coach earn plaudits during his time at Brighton. He recalls specifically how the Italian dismantled top-tier opposition with a fearless approach that could breathe life back into a struggling Spurs squad if the players buy into his philosophy quickly enough.

"Pep Guardiola spoke very highly of him a couple of years ago," Sheringham added. "I remember him going to Arsenal with Brighton and taking them on - playing one against one all over the park and pressing everybody in midfield. It was like, wow, I like that. And it worked on the day. So he’s obviously a coach who knows what he wants and knows how to get it. I’m game to go along for the ride with him."

The turmoil at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium follows a period of perceived stability under Ange Postecoglou, whose sacking in the wake of their Europa League success last summer continues to baffle Sheringham. The former striker believes the Australian was unfairly treated after delivering silverware, suggesting that the subsequent appointments of Frank and Tudor failed to provide the clear leadership the squad required to perform.

"Under Ange, it did - and I still feel aggrieved for him. He came to the club, said he was going to win something, and he won something. Then at the end of the season he’s out of a job," Sheringham explained. "He must have been sitting there thinking, what the hell happened? I told them I’d win something in two years, I won something for the first time in God knows how long, and I’ve got the sack. I didn’t care whether he finished 9th or 17th. When you win something, that’s what matters."