Roberto de Zerbi needs to steady a sinking Tottenham ship before it gets too late this season.
Tottenham are enduring a difficult period as the club finds itself stuck in the bottom half of the Premier League table. The Lilywhites are struggling to return to winning ways, having failed to win any of their league matches since the turn of the year. Fans fear the worst, and it appears that the players have yet to fully grasp the seriousness of the situation. There is a strong possibility that the North Londoners could be playing in the Championship next season if results do not improve in the coming weeks.
The onus now falls on Roberto de Zerbi to steady the sinking ship at N17. He was appointed as Thomas Frank’s permanent replacement earlier this month after signing a five-year contract with the Lilywhites. In doing so, he became the third-highest paid manager in the Premier League, with only Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola earning more. He is now tasked with guiding Spurs back to winning ways in the coming weeks so that they can somehow retain their top-flight status this season.
The ‘new manager bounce’ failed to materialise when De Zerbi took charge of Spurs for the first time last weekend. His side suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat against Sunderland, courtesy of a second-half strike from Nordi Mukiele. It was a game decided by fine margins, with the Black Cats ultimately coming out on top on home soil. Now, time appears to be running out for the Italian tactician to steady the ship at N17, as the Lilywhites remain two points adrift of safety with only six matches remaining.
Tottenham might just get relegated this season
The time has come for the Spurs faithful to face reality. Their beloved club is facing the genuine prospect of dropping into the second division as they continue to struggle for positive results in the Premier League. Not many would have predicted that the Lilywhites would be battling for survival just ten months after winning the Europa League against all odds. However, the club’s worst fears now seem to be materialising, and there is a real chance that they may not be able to maintain their top-flight status.
The defeat against Sunderland proved to be a significant blow for the North Londoners. Not only did they drop crucial points in their battle for survival, but other teams involved in the relegation fight also managed to secure important results at the same time. West Ham came out as winners against Wolves, Leeds United secured a victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, and Nottingham Forest picked up a valuable point against Aston Villa.
The 1-0 loss against Sunderland has further deepened Spurs’ troubles, increasing their chances of relegation. As per The xG Philosophy (via X), the Lilywhites now have a 47 per cent chance of being relegated from the Premier League this season. West Ham United, currently in 17th place, have a 35 percent chance, while Nottingham Forest and Leeds United are given a 16 percent and five per cent chance respectively.
This highlights just how poor the North Londoners have been under multiple managers. The players have failed to find consistency under three different head coaches, and it seems as though the squad may have resigned itself to the outcome without putting in the required effort. Spurs now face Brighton at home in the Premier League next weekend. It is a must-win fixture for the Lilywhites as they aim to preserve their long-standing top-flight status. Will Roberto de Zerbi secure his first win as Spurs boss in the coming days? Only time will tell.