Roberto De Zerbi has decided not to treat the noise around Tottenham's relegation fight as a problem. He wants it used as fuel. With Tottenham 17th on 38 points from 36 matches and two league games left, the margin is small, but the message from the manager is blunt enough. If rival fans want Spurs down, he sees that as motivation rather than baggage.

De Zerbi is leaning into the pressure

De Zerbi told goal.com: "We have to find new motivation from this pressure. If everyone wants Tottenham relegated, it's a big motivation for me and I hope for my players as well." He added that "the pride is amazing motivation" and said that if everyone wants Tottenham relegated, it should be the biggest motivation for every player and every supporter inside the club.

That is a pretty clear line for a team in this spot. Tottenham are not being asked to play this run-in as if they are comfortable. They are being asked to absorb the hostility and turn it into a useful edge, which is easier said than done but at least makes sense when survival is still hanging over them.

The fixture makes the point harder to ignore. Tottenham have one victory in their last 35 away league visits to Chelsea, and the next trip comes at a ground where the home crowd will not be doing them any favours. De Zerbi said they must not start the game thinking about a draw, and that is probably the right instinct. A timid approach at Stamford Bridge would suit nobody in Tottenham's position.

The survival margin is thin enough already

Tottenham need just a single point from their remaining fixtures against Chelsea and Everton to mathematically secure Premier League status. That is the practical truth of the run-in. They are 17th, they have 38 points, and they still have to handle two matches that both matter.

Their recent form is at least less alarming than some of the mood around the club. The last five league results read DWWDL. That is not the record of a team that has solved everything, but it does suggest some recovery before the final stretch.

There is also a broader point here about the way De Zerbi is framing it. He is not pretending the situation is comfortable, and he is not selling a draw as some sensible route through the chaos. His argument is that if Tottenham are going to stay up, they should do it with a bit of backbone. Given where they sit, that feels more convincing than trying to hide from the pressure.

Cristian Romero is part of the backdrop to all this, although his future can wait. He is ruled out for the remainder of the campaign with a knee injury sustained in the 1-0 defeat to Sunderland, and De Zerbi has said decisions on his situation will come after the season and after the Everton game. For now, the club's biggest immediate question is simpler. Get enough from Chelsea and Everton, and the rest can wait.

If Tottenham leave Stamford Bridge with the point they need, the hostile noise around them will still be there. It just will not matter as much when the table is updated.

FAQ

Can Tottenham secure Premier League survival at Chelsea?

Tottenham need just one point from their remaining fixtures against Chelsea and Everton to mathematically secure Premier League status. They are 17th with 38 points from 36 matches, so the run-in is still live. De Zerbi has also said they cannot start the game thinking about a draw.

Why is Roberto De Zerbi encouraging Tottenham to use the hostility as motivation?

De Zerbi says the pressure around Tottenham should be turned into motivation, pride and unity. He has described the idea of rivals wanting Tottenham relegated as a big motivation, and said the tougher the challenge, the better it is for the group to stay focused together.

How hard is Tottenham's away trip to Chelsea in the survival battle?

Tottenham have one victory in their last 35 away league visits to Chelsea. That makes Stamford Bridge a difficult place to bank the point they need, even with Chelsea not in perfect form.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →