The Independent

Roberto De Zerbi has scoffed at suggestions Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is too nice and is adamant Spurs can end their poor home on Monday against Leeds.

Tottenham’s survival prospects have been significantly lifted by back-to-back away wins, but they remain without a home victory in the Premier League since December 6.

The north London club have won only twice at home in the division all season and were seconds away from a third victory in De Zerbi’s debut in N17 before his old team Brighton produced a last-gasp equaliser.

Asked if the atmosphere at their ground might be part of the problem, De Zerbi insisted: “No, because there are a lot of big stadiums and very nice stadiums, like theatres in the Premier League.

“Tottenham’s stadium is hot. When I was in this stadium with Brighton, in the bench of Brighton, or against Brighton two weeks ago, the stadium was very, very hot.

“And for us, we are lucky to play in this stadium.

“The atmosphere against Brighton was amazing. The bottom of the (table), 60,000 fans to support you, to push you, to stay before the game, during the game, after the game, we have been very close with the (fans) and I think it’s luck for us.”

De Zerbi also pointed to Spurs’ 25-match unbeaten home record in Europe as evidence this season is a one-off.

He added: “I think it was a coincidence, because against Atletico Madrid, they won at home. Against Borussia Dortmund in January, they won at home.

“If you ask me against Brighton? We won, but we didn’t take three points. We took one point, but we won in my head as a performance and if we analyse the game against Brighton, it’s like a win. I think it’s a mistake if we keep the focus on this (poor home form) part.”

For Spurs to secure safety after a terrible campaign they will have to exorcise any demons at home in a similar manner to goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, who suffered a nightmare display in Madrid last month but has bounced back admirably.

With Guglielmo Vicario still sidelined after hernia surgery, Kinsky will continue against Leeds and De Zerbi cited him as an example to the whole squad.

“He has a big character, a big personality, a great guy, a great professional and a great keeper. He’s playing very well. He has to stay focused and don’t take risks in any situation, but he’s playing very well. He’s very important for us now,” De Zerbi explained.

“Of course he is an example. Of course what he felt after Madrid, for sure was a big motivation for him.”

De Zerbi described Vicario as still “first choice”, but the Italian could miss the rest of the season and that is almost certainly the case for Dejan Kulusevski, who has targeted a place in Sweden’s World Cup squad despite making no appearances in 12 months after a right patella injury.

“For me it is difficult to understand how he can play the World Cup if he didn’t play any game this season, but I texted him after (Aston Villa),” De Zerbi said.

“He told me the next week I think he will come back (in the country) and I hope he can be available to stay with us (to watch) in the last game because he’s an amazing player.”

Tottenham midfielder Conor Gallagher has lauded the “personal touch” of new manager Roberto De Zerbi, crediting his one-to-one approach for igniting the club's Premier League survival bid.

The north London side climbed out of the relegation zone on Sunday following consecutive victories against relegated Wolves and Aston Villa, offering renewed hope for their top-flight status.

Gallagher, who netted his first goal for Spurs since his January move from Atletico Madrid during Sunday's 2-1 win at Villa Park, highlighted De Zerbi's individual-focused management style.

"The gaffer has been brilliant with us. He has brought the team together," the 26-year-old told reporters.

"He is really worked on players individually with one-to-one meetings and one-to-one chats, trying to get that belief and confidence back in the players. He has done that with me and it has made a big difference. I know he has done that with a lot of the other lads."

Gallagher revealed De Zerbi's specific encouragement, which reminded him of his past form.

"He just reminds me of when I was at my best. He said that second season at Chelsea, when I had a really good season, he just reminded me of that player," Gallagher explained. "He wants me to be like that again and to not forget how good I can be."

This personalised motivation, Gallagher added, has been extended to many within the squad, aiming to restore players to their peak form.Beyond individual attention, De Zerbi's impact has fostered team cohesion.

"As a team as well, all the work he has done on the training pitch and the meeting rooms, it has been fantastic and everyone is on the same page," Gallagher stated.

Despite the recent upturn, Gallagher remains grounded about the task ahead.

"There is a lot of work to do," he cautioned. "We are fully focused on the next game, hopefully do the same performance and another win."

Tottenham face Leeds at home next Monday, a crucial fixture in their bid for safety.

Tottenham looked like a team destined to secure Premier League survival after they beat a dire Aston Villa 2-1 to move out of the bottom three.

Spurs put in their best performance of the season to claim three crucial points at Villa Park, thanks to first-half goals from Conor Gallagher and Richarlison.

They look a different side under Roberto De Zerbi, registering back-to-back league victories for the first time since August, and are now favourites to beat the drop.

The north London club leapfrogged West Ham in the table and with a home game to come against Leeds, after the Hammers host Arsenal, their position could be even rosier next week.

The way they pressed and won back possession all over the pitch was reminiscent of De Zerbi’s Brighton, giving every indication Spurs will be a top flight team next season.

They were fortunate to come up against a Villa side who produced their worst display of the season, with their attention clearly on Thursday’s Europa League semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest.

Indeed, Villa were so bad they scored in the sixth minute of time added on with their only effort on target, with Emiliano Buendia heading home.

Unai Emery’s men still have their league business to look after, though, and missed the chance to all but seal a Champions League spot for next season.

Tottenham came into the game buoyed by West Ham’s 3-0 defeat at Brentford on Saturday and they will have been further enthused when they saw a Villa side featuring seven changes from their midweek loss to Forest in Europe.

They were the better team from the off and had a great chance to open the scoring inside two minutes.

Gallagher pressed well and forced Villa into a mistake playing out from the back, with the ball finding Richarlison 12 yards out, but his shot was blocked.

A deserved lead came in the 12th minute as Gallagher scored his first goal for the club.

A long throw was headed out to the on-loan Atletico Madrid midfielder, who slammed a 25-yard shot into the bottom corner.

Spurs were within inches of making it 2-0 five minutes later. Paulinha shot from distance and his low 20-yard shot was heading into the bottom corner until Emiliano Martinez tipped it onto the post.

Villa were abject and were again reliant on their Argentinian goalkeeper to keep the deficit at one as he palmed Randal Kolo Muani’s far-post effort over the crossbar.

However, from the resulting 25th minute corner, Spurs doubled their advantage.

Tel’s cross was begging to be converted and Richarlison obliged, nodding into an empty net after Martinez went walkabout.

Spurs were in dreamland and deserved every bit of their success.

They were quicker, stronger and smarter than their opponents, who looked like their hearts were not in it.

Villa did not improve after the break either and failed to test Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky until late on, when Buendia headed home Matty Cash’s cross.

But this was to be Tottenham’s night as they made a big move towards securing survival.

PA

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Liveupdated

Aston Villa v Tottenham LIVE: Team news as Spurs battle for Premier League survival

Spurs are desperate for points in the relegation battle, while Unai Emery’s Villa look to clinch a Champions League berth in a crunch Premier League clash at Villa Park

Tottenham's run-in

Position: 18th | Played: 34 | Points: 34 | GD: -10

Remaining fixtures:

Where to pick up points? Having not won for 16 league matches, with their last Premier League triumph coming against Crystal Palace back in December, Tottenham have finally found three points at once. Their trip to Wolves was a must-win and they did just that. Now, a potentially pivotal clash with Leeds at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium three matches from the end of the campaign will also be 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.

Luke Baker3 May 2026 16:16

Premier League relegation battle: Do Tottenham, West Ham, Nottingham Forest or Leeds have the best run-in?

It’s going down to the wire:

Premier League relegation battle: Who has the best run-in?

Spurs are looking to avoid a shock Premier League relegation, while Nottingham Forest are almost clear and West Ham are aiming to pull off a great escape

Harry Latham-Coyle3 May 2026 16:10

Tottenham vs Aston Villa

Tottenham visit Aston Villa in desperate need of a result to boost their Premier League survival chances.

Spurs could be lifted by relegation rivals West Ham losing 3-0 to Brentford yesterday, which means three points would move Tottenham out of the relegation zone with three game to play.

Roberto De Zerbi’s side ended their long winless run at Wolves last weekend but suffered a couple of big injury blows with Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke ruled out.

Aston Villa’s focus may be on overturning Thursday’s 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in the Europa League semi-finals, given Unai Emery’s side look to have wrapped up a place in next season’s Champions League.

Mike Jones3 May 2026 16:00

Aston Villa vs Tottenham LIVE

A very good afternoon, and welcome to our LIVE coverage of a Premier League clash with significance at both ends of the table. Aston Villa look to take a step towards securing Champions League football next season as they host Tottenham, who would climb out of the relegation zone with victory this evening.

Kick off at Villa Park is at 7pm BST.

Harry Latham-Coyle3 May 2026 13:23

Tottenham visit Aston Villa in desperate need of a result to boost their Premier League survival chances.

Spurs could be lifted by relegation rivals West Ham losing 3-0 to Brentford yesterday, which means three points would move Tottenham out of the relegation zone with three game to play.

Roberto De Zerbi’s side ended their long winless run at Wolves last weekend but suffered a couple of big injury blows with Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke ruled out.

Aston Villa’s focus may be on overturning Thursday’s 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in the Europa League semi-finals, given Unai Emery’s side look to have wrapped up a place in next season’s Champions League.

When is Aston Villa v Tottenham?

Kick-off is at 7pm BST at Villa Park.

How can I watch it?

It will be shown on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

What is the team news?

Amadou Onana is a doubt after being taken off during the Forest first leg with a calf injury, with Boubacar Kamara still sidelined. Further changes could be likely ahead of the second leg.

Tottenham remain without Guglielmo Vicario. Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke join a lengthy injury list that includes Cristian Romero and Mohammed Kudus, but Destiny Udogie is fit.

Possible line-ups

Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Lindelof, Maatsen; Tielemans, Luiz; McGinn, Rogers, Sancho; Watkins

Tottenham XI: Kinsky; Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Udogie; Palhinha, Bissouma; Muani, Gallagher, Tel; Richarlison

What have the managers said?

Unai Emery: “Each match in the Premier League is very difficult. They have very good players and they have a very good coach. Maybe they will need time to set the tactical things he did in Brighton, which were really fantastic.

“I think he will do it, but now they are trying to escape the bottom and they need points more than playing in a strong structure or idea he is usually doing.

“They have experienced players, good players, and I expect a very difficult match. I expect in 90 minutes to play competing in our best way, tactically and in our structure through the players individually and collectively.

Roberto De Zerbi: “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.

Aston Villa vs Tottenham tips:

Tottenham Hotspur travel to Aston Villa on Sunday night, desperate to continue their fight against relegation from the Premier League (kick-off 7pm, live on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max).

With just four games to go, Spurs still occupy the third and final relegation place, and by the time they kick off on Sunday, they could be as many as five points from safety.

Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley have already been relegated, but the final place could go to one of six teams.

According to betting sites, Spurs are the most likely to go down, with West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Leeds United next in the betting, but neither Newcastle United nor Crystal Palace are mathematically safe yet, although Palace do have a game in hand.

At the other end of the table, Villa are fifth and in line to qualify for the Champions League again, although they could also secure a place by winning the Europa League.

They have picked up 24 more points than Spurs so far and are currently level on points with Liverpool in fourth, so they will still be looking to improve on their league finish and will see this as the ideal game to get three points on the board.

Villa vs Spurs tips: Expect goals at Villa Park

Spurs did finally get their first win of the year last weekend when they scraped to a 1-0 win over the bottom side Wolves, but it didn’t make a difference to their position as West Ham scored in added time to beat Everton and preserve the two-point gap.

The situation at Tottenham has become desperate, with relegation a very real prospect, but their latest manager, Roberto De Zerbi, has at least got a win under his belt. Last Saturday’s victory ended a 15-game winless run in the Premier League.

Former Brighton and Marseille boss De Zerbi has picked up four points from his three games in charge, which is a huge improvement on Igor Tudor, who picked up just one from his six league games.

Football betting sites have Spurs as the favourites for the drop at odds of 8/11, and with the latest injuries to Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke, it’s hardly a surprise.

When the sides met in the league earlier this season, Villa came from behind to secure a 2-1 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium through goals from Morgan Rogers and Emi Buendia.

They also met again in the FA Cup third round, back in January, and the scoreline was the same, and the same pair were on the scoresheet.

This time, they took a 2-0 lead at the break before Wilson Odobert pulled a goal back for the home side, but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation.

Unai Emery’s side have won the last four meetings between the two sides, but Spurs did win 4-0 at Villa Park the season before last when James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, Son Heung-Min and Timo Werner were all on target, and Villa were reduced to 10 men when John McGinn was sent off.

Despite their perilous position and the number of attackers out injured, Spurs have consistently scored goals and have scored more than seven other teams around them.

In fact, they have only scored four less than Villa; their problem has been stopping them from going in at the other end. As such, expect goals at both ends on Sunday night.

Aston Villa vs Tottenham prediction 1: Over 3.5 goals - 7/4 Bet365

Aston Villa vs Tottenham tip: Watkins to send another reminder to Tuchel

Striker Ollie Watkins is hitting form just at the right time to remind England manager Thomas Tuchel of his presence ahead of the World Cup.

He was left out of the most recent squad, but he has scored six goals in his last seven games to help Villa to four wins.

Watkins netted braces against Bologna and Sunderland and was also on target against West Ham to take his tally for the season to 15 in all competitions.

Betting apps are offering 9/1 on him scoring two or more, for the fifth time this season, as well as the generous price of 6/4 on him scoring at any time.

I prefer to play the percentages by choosing to back the latter.

Aston Villa vs Tottenham prediction 2: Watkins to score - 6/4 Betway

Aston Villa vs Tottenham team news

Aston Villa vs Tottenham predicted line-ups:

Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Bogarde, Tielemans, McGinn, Buendia, Rogers, Watkins.

Tottenham: Kinsky, Spence, Danso, Van de Ven, Porro, Bissouma, Gallagher, Bentancur, Bergvall, Kolo Muani, Richarlison.

If you’re having a bet on Villa vs Spurs, it’s vital to practice responsible gambling.

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Never treat gambling as a way to make money, never bet more than you can afford and when the fun stops, stop.

Gambling sites offer punters tools, like deposit limits, profit and loss trackers and self-exclusion options, to help you stay in control.

Try not to get carried away by free bets or casino bonuses, which are widely available.

But if you ever feel like you need help or advice on gambling addiction, don’t hesitate to contact one of the charities or organisations below.

We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across 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’.