Roberto De Zerbi has urged his Tottenham players to 'accept the pressure' and use the fact that 'everyone wants them relegated' as motivation for their crucial Premier League clash at Chelsea. Spurs need only a draw at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night to all but secure their top-flight survival, while a defeat would keep the relegation battle alive.
De Zerbi embraces the hostility
The Italian manager, who took over from Igor Tudor in late March, has been instilling a positive mindset in his squad. He acknowledged the intense rivalry and the desire of other clubs to see Spurs go down, but insisted it should fuel his team's performance. 'I am Italian and in Italy it's the same,' De Zerbi said. 'For the biggest teams, it's the same. We have to accept the pressure. We have to enjoy this pressure. We have to find new motivation from this pressure.'
He added: 'If everyone wants Tottenham relegated, it's a big motivation for me and I hope for my players as well. We have to accept that football is nice because of the rivalries. It's good to imagine ourselves celebrating the win in their stadium.'
Overcoming the Stamford Bridge hoodoo
Spurs have a dismal record at Stamford Bridge, winning only once there since 1990 – a 3-1 victory under Mauricio Pochettino in 2018, inspired by a Dele Alli double. De Zerbi acknowledged the record but dismissed its significance. 'We spoke this morning about this record,' he said. 'But the most important is the spirit, the personality for tomorrow – to play a good game, to make points. It's not the record that is important. It's the mood, how you go to play the game.'
Since De Zerbi took charge, Spurs have won two of their five matches, including victories over Wolves and Aston Villa, lifting them out of the relegation zone. They currently sit 17th, two points above the drop zone, while West Ham are 18th and in desperate need of results.
Team news and discipline
De Zerbi confirmed that Dominic Solanke remains injured, but Guglielmo Vicario is available again. The manager faces a decision on whether to recall his first-choice goalkeeper or stick with Antonin Kinsky, who has impressed in recent games. De Zerbi hinted he may keep faith with Kinsky.
The match is likely to be a heated affair, with both teams having poor disciplinary records this season. Spurs have the worst in the league with 91 yellow cards and four reds, while Chelsea are second-worst with 81 yellows and seven reds. The infamous 'Battle of the Bridge' in May 2016, when nine Spurs players were booked in a 2-2 draw that ended their title challenge, remains a vivid memory.
De Zerbi stressed the need for composure: 'Always calm with the blood, with personality, with the right spirit. Focus just on the game. Because in our last one against Leeds, when Kinsky saved in stoppage time, we went too strong, too fast, too strong on the ball. Sometimes we have to be more calm.'
