Roberto De Zerbi’s pre-match promise to stay at Tottenham “no matter what” gave the final day a different edge before a ball was kicked. Spurs were still only two points above the relegation zone ahead of the game, and the pressure around the club was obvious. They then beat Everton 1-0, with João Palhinha’s 43rd-minute goal doing the job.
Why the manager’s words mattered
De Zerbi signed a five-year deal and arrived in late March to replace interim coach Igor Tudor, so this was not framed as a short-term rescue act. That was clear in his own words. “Yes, I confirm everything. For me, it's still an honour to be a coach for Tottenham, even if on Sunday we play for the relegation fight, it's not a problem,” he told goal.com.
He added: “I consider football something more than the table, than the level of the game.” That is a firm stance, and it fits the way he talked up the project rather than the panic. “I didn't come here in midtable. The situation was this, more games but not too different a situation. If I came it was because I thought there are the right conditions, the right qualities and players to achieve the target,” he said.
De Zerbi also said: “It's easier to play the final of Europa League than to play Tottenham vs Everton, 100 per cent.” He was not pretending the match was routine, and Tottenham’s season backed him up.
The result that kept Spurs up
The numbers were tight. Tottenham finished 17th on 38 points, and the win over Everton came by a single goal. West Ham beat Leeds 3-0 but still went down, ending 18th on 36 points and closing a 14-year stay in the English top flight.
Palhinha’s winner in the 43rd minute was the cleanest piece of football in the story, because it settled everything Tottenham needed on the day. The performance did not suddenly turn the season into a success. It did, though, confirm that De Zerbi’s focus on the project was not just talk to calm the room before kick-off.
The point is not that the manager was proven right about everything. It is that he tied himself to the club when the table looked dangerous, and Tottenham escaped by doing just enough against Everton. The season ends with Spurs safe, Palhinha’s goal on the final-day record, and West Ham down on 36 points.
FAQ
Why did Roberto De Zerbi say he would stay at Tottenham even if they were in a relegation fight?
De Zerbi said it was still an honour to coach Tottenham and that football was “more than the table”. He also said he did not come in to a midtable situation and believed there were the right conditions, qualities and players to achieve the target.
How did Tottenham survive on the final day against Everton?
Tottenham beat Everton 1-0, with João Palhinha scoring the only goal in the 43rd minute. The win left Tottenham 17th on 38 points and kept them clear of the relegation zone.
What happened to West Ham after Tottenham beat Everton?
West Ham beat Leeds 3-0 but still went down. They finished 18th on 36 points, and their relegation ended a 14-year stay in the English top flight.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →
