Roberto De Zerbi Says Everyone Wants Tottenham Relegated, Spurs Aim To Win At Stamford Bridge

Roberto De Zerbi told a news conference that the idea that “everyone wants Tottenham relegated” should be “a big motivation” as Spurs prepare to secure Premier League survival against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.

The BBC said Spurs are two points above West Ham, who occupy the final relegation place, and that Spurs have a vastly better goal difference (-9) than West Ham (-22) having played a game fewer.

BBC

De Zerbi also insisted Spurs should not “start the game thinking to draw,” saying “We have to start the game and we prepare the game and we speak in the meeting to win the game.”

The Guardian framed De Zerbi’s message around the club’s Stamford Bridge hoodoo, noting Spurs have won once at Stamford Bridge since 1990 and that they need only a draw on Tuesday night to all but ensure they survive.

De Zerbi said “We have to accept the pressure. We have to enjoy this pressure,” and he added that “If everyone wants Tottenham relegated, it’s a big motivation for me and I hope for my players as well.”

The Times described Tottenham’s survival bid as being tied to a venue where they have “almost never win,” with “One victory in 36 years away to Chelsea” and a run that goes back to 1990.

It said Spurs are two points ahead of West Ham and that their superior goal difference of 13 means a draw against Chelsea will “realistically, be enough to prevent the doom-tussle going to a nail-biting final day.”

BBC

Calum McFarlane, Chelsea’s interim head coach, said “Tottenham adds an extra incentive, any London derby does,” referencing the “Battle of the Bridge” in 2016 when Spurs’ title hopes ended after a 2-2 draw.

De Zerbi told reporters “No, no, stop,” and said “We can’t start the game thinking to draw,” while also pointing to the mood after Spurs’ last win before Wolves on 28 December.

The Guardian added that the “infamous Battle of the Bridge” in May 2016 ended 2-2 with 12 players booked, nine from Spurs, and it noted Spurs have the worst disciplinary record in the league with 91 yellow cards and four reds.

Ahead of Sunday’s north London derby, talkSPORT quoted Arsenal legend Martin Keown saying Tottenham had a “long-standing priority of aiming to stop Arsenal’s success rather than focusing on their own objectives.”

Keown pointed to the 1998/99 title race, recalling: “I remember in 1999 Spurs went to Old Trafford and we lost the league by a point,” and he said “We saw Spurs had gone in front and maybe they looked at that and thought we’re going to help Arsenal win the league.”

talkSPORT host Jim White responded: “This is almost scandalous. You’re suggesting, even way back then, Tottenham underperformed at Old Trafford to stop Arsenal winning the league?”

The same segment included a challenge from co-host Simon Jordan, who asked, “So it’s a conspiracy theory?” as Keown argued Spurs’ motivation was always “stopping Arsenal from winning something.”

GiveMeSport, meanwhile, ranked former Tottenham players it said “ruined their legacy at Tottenham,” including Sol Campbell, Pat Jennings, Dimitar Berbatov, Jason Cundy and Luka Modric, with Campbell described as being labelled as “Judas” after his free transfer to Arsenal.