The Independent

Roberto De Zerbi has warned Tottenham’s relegation rivals not to count them out and promised there will be no crying at the club over more injury problems this season.

Spurs secured a first Premier League win in 16 matches at Wolves on Saturday, but it was quickly followed by Xavi Simons (knee) being ruled out for the majority of 2026 while Dominic Solanke is also out with a hamstring issue.

Ahead of Sunday’s trip to Aston Villa, De Zerbi started his press conference with a four-minute monologue about silencing negativity and reiterated his belief 18th-placed Tottenham can stay up.

“I watched you. I watched you this week,” De Zerbi told a Sky Sports reporter.

“Listen, I want to be clear one time. The most important challenge now is to silence the voice inside of us, inside of the players, inside of the staff and inside of the fans. This voice can produce negative thoughts.

“The voice says, ‘we are unlucky, we have too many injuries, we lost Xavi Simons and he was the last two games one of the best players and most important players for us, our medical staff is not good enough and the pitch of the stadium is not good, the pitch of the training ground is not good, it is impossible to win two or three games in a row because we have not won too many games in 2026’. I think it is all negative things and it is rubbish.

“We go to play against one of the best teams in this moment in the Premier League. We have a big respect for Emery as a coach, but if Tottenham win in Villa Park, it is not a miracle.

“Maybe we lose, I don’t know, but we have the quality to win this game and it is not a miracle, so I think we have to be positive and to be lucky because we are working in a big club.

“I heard no, that it is impossible, we are crying everyone and we are relegated. But no, not yet. And we have to die on the pitch and to die on the pitch we have to lose the game.

“Before we lose the game we have to play, we have to fight and we have two points less than West Ham, but West Ham have to play difficult games as well like us.

“For that, OK it is not the best moment for us, it is a tough moment, a difficult moment, but the losers cry. The losers think negative. I don’t want people close to me crying or to think in a different way to me.

“We are good enough to win the games and we are good enough to stay up.”

Spurs will be without at least eight players at Villa Park with Guglielmo Vicario still ruled out, but Destiny Udogie is available.

On whether Solanke can play again this season, De Zerbi said: “I don’t know yet.”

Mauricio Pochettino has expressed profound sadness over his former club Tottenham Hotspur’s current struggle against Premier League relegation.

The Argentine, who famously led Spurs to a second-placed league finish in 2016-17 and a Champions League final appearance in 2019, has watched his old side drop into the bottom three in the Premier League table with just four matches remaining this season.

Speaking on The Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast, Pochettino conveyed his deep emotional connection to the club.

"It’s really sad, I really love Tottenham, it’s going to be a part of my life, an important part of my life as a coach, my personal life too," he stated.

"It’s really sad because I know how the people are suffering there, inside the club and also the fans. It’s difficult to accept."

His successful five-year tenure in north London coincided with significant infrastructure projects, including the construction of the club’s state-of-the-art stadium and training ground.

This period saw Spurs play 'home' fixtures at Wembley, with transfer funds often restricted due to the substantial investment elsewhere.

Pochettino revealed he had targeted players like Sadio Mane and Georginio Wijnaldum, both of whom ultimately joined Liverpool and were instrumental in the side that defeated Spurs in the Champions League final.

Reflecting on the challenges, Pochettino added: "It’s a shame. We were winning every season because with all the circumstances that we were fighting, we spent 18 months with not one signing. That was a record in the Premier League.

“We had money to spend but not the type of money to improve, to be close to win or to challenge. We challenged, we challenged to win. But we missed this last step."

Pochettino was dismissed by then-chairman Daniel Levy five months after the Champions League final, and replaced by Jose Mourinho.

After a brief spell with PSG, he returned to the Premier League as Chelsea head coach in May 2023. However, his tenure at Stamford Bridge lasted just 12 months, ending after a sixth-placed finish amid what has become a familiar cycle of managerial changes under Chelsea owners BlueCo, who recently sacked Liam Rosenior after only 23 games in charge.

When questioned about the perceived chaos at Chelsea, Pochettino offered a nuanced view of BlueCo’s strategy.

"I think they have a plan. Maybe it is completely different than it was in the past with (former owner Roman) Abramovich. It’s true it’s not easy for people to understand…I think they need to explain the plan."

Looking ahead, Pochettino is set to lead the United States into this summer’s World Cup, but he indicated a strong desire to manage in the Premier League again.

"One day yes, because I really like England," he affirmed. "I think my profile – my human profile and my coaching profile – match very well with the Premier League."

Tottenham Hotspur legend Glenn Hoddle has revealed he offered to take charge of the club amid their desperate fight against relegation, prior to Roberto De Zerbi’s appointment.

Hoddle, who is widely regarded as one of the club’s finest players, having inspired Spurs to multiple trophies between 1975 and 1987, made the offer alongside fellow former player Ossie Ardiles.

The approach came after a damaging 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest on 23 March, a result that underscored the crisis engulfing the north London side. At the time, Igor Tudor was at the helm, but the loss marked his fifth in a disastrous seven-match tenure, leading to his departure a week later.

Facing the prospect of a first relegation in 49 years, Tottenham ultimately turned to De Zerbi. While the Italian secured his maiden victory against Wolves last Saturday, the club remains precariously placed in 18th, two points from Premier League safety.

Speaking on The Jeff Stelling Show, Hoddle explained his motivation: "They never came to us. We did, Ossie (Ardiles) and myself, after the Forest game, we felt there was a real problem there."

He added: "Ossie and I made it clear that we would go in there if they wanted us to go in there with probably a younger legend (as coach) as well."

Hoddle felt the club "needed some love, like it needed some people to go in there and unite the fans, with the owners, with the team and that is why we said we would do it."

Despite his offer, Tottenham opted for De Zerbi.

Hoddle, a lifelong fan, accepted the decision, stating: "They said they were looking elsewhere, so that was fine by me. I don’t care who, I’m a Spurs man through and through since eight years of age, so as long as they’ve got the right man in."

He acknowledged the challenge ahead for De Zerbi, concluding: "De Zerbi has gone in and everyone’s got to unite and get together, but they’ve got a real task on their hands haven’t they? I just want them to stay up, whether I was involved or I wasn’t."

Tottenham’s survival hopes have been dealt a further blow with Xavi Simons ruled out for the majority of 2026 due to a serious knee injury, and Dominic Solanke reportedly a doubt for the final four matches with a hamstring strain.

Xavi Simons has been left “heartbroken” after he was ruled out for the rest of this season and the World Cup in an enormous blow to Tottenham’s survival hopes.

Netherlands playmaker Simons went down clutching his right knee in the 58th minute of Saturday’s 1-0 win at Wolves, which earned Spurs a first Premier League victory of 2026.

After Simons fell to the floor following a collision with Wolves defender Hugo Bueno, the 23-year-old attempted to run off the injury but collapsed in front of Tottenham’s medical staff and subsequently left Molineux on a stretcher.

It increased fears over potential anterior cruciate ligament damage and, while Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi acknowledged Simons was feeling “better” in the dressing room after a first league win in 16 matches, he is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a serious knee injury.

During an Instagram post late on Sunday night, Simons revealed he would not be fit enough to take part in Tottenham’s final four league matches or represent the Netherlands at the World Cup this summer.

“They say life can be cruel and today it feels that way. My season has come to an abrupt end and I’m just trying to process it,” the former Paris St Germain player said.

“Honestly, I’m heartbroken. None of it makes sense.

“All I’ve wanted to do is fight for my team and now the ability to do that has been snatched away from me, along with the World Cup.”

The absence of £52m attacker Simons is a significant blow to Tottenham and De Zerbi, who has already lost captain Cristian Romero and winger Mohammed Kudus to season-ending injuries during his first month at the club.

Simons had endured a frustrating debut campaign in England, only showing flashes of his class under Thomas Frank before being bizarrely frozen out by Igor Tudor, but looked set for a key role with De Zerbi, especially after a wonder strike in a 2-2 home draw with Brighton.

Instead, Simons can play no part in Spurs’ desperate efforts to overturn a two-point deficit to 17th-placed West Ham in order to avoid their first relegation in 49 years.

Simons added: “It’ll take some time to find peace with this but I’ll continue to be the best team-mate I can be. I have no doubt that together we’ll win this fight.

“I’ll walk this path now, guided by faith, with strength, with resilience, with belief as I count down the days to getting back out there. Be patient with me.”

The Netherlands national team account offered support for Simons posting ‘you’ll come back stronger Xavi’.

Wolves v Tottenham LIVE: Latest score and updates from Premier League clash  The Independent

Tottenham are staring down the barrel of the unthinkable: relegation from the Premier League. The tide is not shifting after last-gasp heartbreak was compounded by results not going their way in recent matches.

Relegation for a Spurs side that won the Europa League last season, reached the Champions League knockout stage this term and has spent just one season outside the top flight since 1950 would go down as one of the biggest shocks in Premier League history. Roberto De Zerbi is now the man tasked with engineering an escape, but Brighton scoring a last-minute equaliser at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last Saturday evening felt like a dagger into the heart of Spurs supporters.

Leeds have pulled clear of the relegation zone after back-to-back victories against Manchester United and Wolves and a draw away at Bournemouth, while Nottingham Forest scored a huge 5-0 win at Sunderland on Friday evening and West Ham also picked up precious points in recent weeks, including grinding out a goalless draw at Crystal Palace last time out.

That Hammers result confirmed Wolves’ demotion, and they have now been joined by Burnley after the Clarets fell to a 1-0 loss at home to Manchester City to confirm their return to the Championship.

With Wolves and Burnley both relegated, here’s how the rest of the crucial relegation run-in is shaping up.

Position: 15th | Played: 34 | Points: 40 | GD: -7

Remaining fixtures:

Where to pick up points? The fixtures fell fairly kindly for Leeds and after their seminal win over Manchester United – a first league victory at Old Trafford since 1981 – as well as a 3-0 home victory over Wolves and a 2-2 draw to Bournemouth, it looks probable that they will secure Premier League football next season. They have now reached the 40-point mark and they’ll be eyeing up the home fixture against Burnley to get over the line. Away games against relegation rivals Tottenham and West Ham also look like prime opportunities to get results on the board.

Tricky contests? They’ve passed their toughest test on paper with flying colours by beating United, which was their last game against a top-five team. Nevertheless, hosting European football-chasing Brighton in their penultimate fixture won’t be easy. Will a FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea this weekend prove to be a welcome distraction or a hindrance?

Final straight? Leeds look safe, but they will be desperate to have that secured by the time they travel to West Ham on the final day. If not, that could be a high-octane shootout for survival. Games against Brighton and Spurs immediately preceding that aren’t too unfriendly as finales go.

Position: 16th | Played: 34 | Points: 39 | GD: -4

Remaining fixtures:

Where to pick up points? Forest had to make the most of a home fixture against doomed Burnley and, inspired by a 15-minute Morgan Gibbs-White hat-trick, they seized that golden opportunity. They then followed that up with a statement 5-0 thrashing of a Sunderland side who are largely on the beach. That could be enough to get over the line. If not, a home game against a struggling Newcastle side who may have nothing to play for could be their best chance.

Tricky contests? Games against three of the current top eight still await Forest with trips to Manchester United and Chelsea on the docket, plus a home finale against Bournemouth. Forest also have to negotiate a Europa League semi-final with Aston Villa, which may prove a distraction.

Final straight? It’s not the best with a journey to Old Trafford on the penultimate day of the season far from ideal and then hosting Bournemouth on the final day also a tricky finish. A home match against a floundering Newcastle as their antepenultimate fixture could be worse though. Things could be complicated by their Europa League distraction, however.

Position: 17th | Played: 33 | Points: 33 | GD: -17

Remaining fixtures:

Where to pick up points? Their impressive form since hugely damaging back-to-back defeats to Wolves and Nottingham Forest at the start of the year have seen West Ham go from doomed to having a genuine chance of survival – even climbing out of the bottom three by thumping Wolves 4-0 straight after the international break. Another point at Crystal Palace may be seen as two lost rather than one gained considering the Eagles’ form, however, and they now enter a run of tricky tests. Welcoming Leeds to the London Stadium on the final day looms incredibly large and could prove pivotal.

Tricky contests? The Everton (H), Brentford (A), Arsenal (H) run from this weekend to early May does not look very friendly. The games after that run appear to be much better chances to pick up the points the Hammers need to pull off an impressive escape.

Final straight? If West Ham can get through this upcoming three-game stretch with a realistic shot at survival then an away game against Newcastle and a home clash with Leeds to finish the season might just be the ticket to get them clear of the drop zone. The final-day showdown against Daniel Farke’s side could be an all-time classic but won’t be a pretty watch if both sides are still fighting for their lives. However, Leeds might already be safe by then and the fact that the Whites are coming to the London Stadium at least plays into Nuno and co’s hands.

Position: 18th | Played: 33 | Points: 31 | GD: -11

Remaining fixtures:

Where to pick up points? At the moment, Spurs can’t pick up a win from anywhere... They haven’t won for 16 league matches, with their last Premier League triumph coming against Crystal Palace back in December. Spurs looked set to end that miserable run after Xavi Simons fired the hosts ahead against Brighton last Saturday but Georginio Rutter struck at the death to deny Roberto de Zerbi’s side. On paper, a game away to Wolves this afternoon has to end up with three points, and a potentially pivotal clash with Leeds at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium three matches from the end of the campaign is also a golden opportunity. But every fixture is tough currently.

Tricky contests? Sidestepping the obvious quip of ‘every single one’, given their recent form, away games at Champions League-chasing Aston Villa and Chelsea in May don’t look too fruitful.

Final straight? Leeds at home as the third-last game is absolutely huge. Should that game go awry and Spurs head into the final two matches in the relegation zone, then a trip to Stamford Bridge and clash with Everton to finish up appear unlikely to provide succour.

This could genuinely go in any direction and you’d have to be a brave person to predict the outcome with any confidence.

It could still all come down to the final day when West Ham host Leeds, Spurs play Everton and Nottingham Forest host Bournemouth. Leeds generally have the kindest fixtures and should have enough to survive given the points they have recently picked up.

Forest’s last two results have been massive, given that they could have beeen adversely affected by their Europa League run and probably need to have survival wrapped up going into the final couple of games, while West Ham’s boosted their chances with that Wolves win.

Meanwhile, Spurs could be in real trouble if De Zerbi doesn’t flip the club’s fortunes and fast. Today’s Wolves match is simply a must-win and if they don’t emerge with three points then you’d really begin to fear that the worst is probable rather than just possible for Spurs. But things can change within the week.

Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi is holding onto the belief that a single victory can dramatically alter the course of his side’s season, even as he grapples with a mounting injury crisis ahead of Saturday’s crucial trip to already-relegated Wolves.

Spurs remain entrenched in the Premier League’s bottom three for another week, two points adrift of safety, following a late equaliser conceded in their 2-2 draw against Brighton last Saturday.

This result extended their winless run in the top flight to a concerning 15 matches, intensifying the pressure on the club to avoid a catastrophic relegation, their first since 1977.

De Zerbi’s challenge is compounded by significant personnel issues. Left-back Destiny Udogie is sidelined with a muscle problem, while first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario remains unavailable after hernia surgery, meaning Antonin Kinsky will continue to deputise between the posts.

Midfield playmaker James Maddison, though travelling with the squad, is not expected to contribute significantly after being an unused substitute against Brighton, casting further doubt on his immediate impact.

Despite the bleak outlook, De Zerbi urged his team to play without undue pressure.

"It’s a tough game because they have nothing to lose," he stated. "It’s an important game for us, for sure, but we have to be able to play with not too much pressure."

He defended his squad against external criticism, adding: "I found good players, good guys, serious players and they follow me. They believe in my words because I am able to recognise the eyes of the players."

“We are suffering, they are suffering because it is not easy to play in Tottenham in this condition of the table, but I said they have to be stronger and they have to live to win a game.

"We have to live every part of the day waiting for a win and preparing for a win because I think with a win we can change this part of the season."

It was revealed on Friday that Sunderland forward Brian Brobbey should have received a second yellow card for a foul on Spurs captain Cristian Romero during De Zerbi’s debut loss in charge.

"Can we play that game again or not? I think not," De Zerbi remarked. "It was clear but no problem. We have to move on."

Kevin Danso is set to start again for Tottenham, and De Zerbi spoke out strongly against the racist abuse the defender endured following his error against Brighton.

"I was very annoyed by the racist insults towards Kevin, but he has to be calm. I’m proud for him," the manager affirmed.

Regarding Maddison’s presence, De Zerbi clarified his role despite fitness concerns.

"He is not available yet, especially in this week. He felt pain but not so important problem," he explained.

"Tomorrow he will come with us on the bench because he is important. If he plays or not, it doesn’t matter. As a guy, as a leader, he is a positive guy. Inside of my dressing room I want to see nice people, positive people and this is important also for his team-mates."

Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi believes he already has a "special connection" with Xavi Simons after the playmaker starred in Spurs’ 2-2 draw with Brighton on Saturday.

De Zerbi, a former creative midfielder himself during his playing days, told SpursPlay: "He’s lucky to work with me – not because I’m good, because I was number 10. What he thinks now, I thought 20 years ago. So, we have a special connection.

“I have a special connection with all number 10s I work with. I love a number 10. A number 10 has to understand that he has to score and he has to make assists, not just play to be nice to the people – goals and assists."

Simons, a £52million arrival from RB Leipzig last summer, was instrumental against Brighton. He created Pedro Porro's opener, struck the post, and then fired Tottenham back in front with a spectacular 77th-minute strike.

However, Brighton substitute Georginio Rutter snatched a stoppage-time equaliser. He has two goals and five assists in 27 top-flight appearances this term.

De Zerbi has one point from six since replacing Igor Tudor, after starting with a 1-0 loss at Sunderland earlier this month.

Tottenham remain a point from safety, and will be four points behind if West Ham win at Crystal Palace on Monday.

Still seeking a first league win of 2026, Spurs face bottom club Wolves on Saturday.

De Zerbi remains confident in Simons' potential as Tottenham look to avoid the dreaded drop.

"He played very well, a great game," he said. "I think he can play better and better, because a player like this, he needs to feel confidence from the manager and I stay here to transfer all the confidence he needs."

Spurs have five games to secure Premier League survival, and Simon could have a crucial role to play.

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Tottenham defender receives racist abuse after Brighton draw

Andy Sims

Sunday 19 April 2026 11:44 BST

Tottenham Hotspur has strongly condemned the "vile, dehumanising racism" aimed at defender Kevin Danso on social media.

The abuse followed Saturday's 2-2 draw with Brighton, where Danso was implicated in the stoppage-time equaliser that left Spurs in the Premier League relegation zone.

The club has reported the racist abuse to the Metropolitan Police and other relevant authorities, pledging to pursue the strongest possible action against perpetrators.

Tottenham affirmed their "complete and unconditional support" for Danso, saying that performance on the pitch can never excuse or explain racist abuse.

This incident occurred during the Premier League’s dedicated "No Room For Racism" weekend and follows several other recent cases of racist abuse targeting players in English football.

Tottenham Hotspur has issued a strong condemnation of the “vile, dehumanising racism” aimed at defender Kevin Danso, which followed Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Brighton.

The abuse surfaced after Danso was implicated in the concession of Georginio Rutter’s stoppage-time equaliser, a result that left Spurs languishing in the Premier League relegation zone.

The club has confirmed that it has reported the racist abuse, received via social media, to the police.

In a statement, Tottenham said that the incidents occurred during the Premier League’s dedicated “No Room For Racism” weekend.

“Since yesterday’s fixture against Brighton... Kevin Danso has been, and continues to be, subject to significant and abhorrent racist abuse on social media,” the club said.

They labelled such behaviour as “without doubt a criminal offence” and said that it “will not be tolerated”.

Tottenham are pursuing “immediate action”, reporting all identified content to the Metropolitan Police, as well as to the appropriate authorities in the countries where perpetrators reside, and to the relevant social media platforms.

The club have pledged to “push for the strongest possible action against each and every person we identify”.

They also affirmed their “complete and unconditional support” for Danso, stating: “No one at this club will ever stand alone in the face of this.

“Nothing about form or league position can ever excuse or explain racist abuse. There is no connection between performance on the pitch and the right to target a player with discrimination. Criticism of performances is part of the game. Racism is not.”

In February, an “appalling weekend” rocked English football after four players were subjected to racist abuse on their social media accounts following recent matches.

Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana and Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri both shared images of racist messages they privately received on Instagram after their teams’ 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Tolu Arokodare also displayed racially aggravated messages sent to him on Instagram following a 1-0 loss at Crystal Palace, a game in which he had a penalty saved.

And last week, Sunderland condemned racist abuse directed towards Brian Brobbey on social media and offered the striker their full support.