- May 2, 2026
‘Losers Cry’: Roberto De Zerbi Lights Fire Under Spurs, Says ‘We Have To Die On The Pitch’
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De Zerbi urges his players to fight till the very end to secure their place in the PL. Spurs currently languish in the relegation zone with four games left.
Spurs’ de Zerbi has demanded his players to step up to the plate to fight for survival in the PL (AP)
Tottenham Hotspur are deep in trouble, but Roberto De Zerbi isn’t entertaining defeat just yet.
Spurs remain stuck the purgatory, languised in the relegation zone two points from safety, with only four games left to salvage their season. And if things continue to go south, the North London side could see themselves drop out of the top flight for the first time since 1977-78.
But, there is no time for tears, says De Zerbi.
Injuries Pile Up at the Worst Time
Tottenham finally snapped a 118-day wait for a league win with victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend, but it came at a cost.
Both Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke picked up injuries, adding to an already stretched squad at the worst possible moment in the campaign.
Despite the setbacks, De Zerbi isn’t allowing a defeatist mindset to creep in.
“I keep hearing we are in an impossible moment, that we’re crying because we are going to be relegated. Well, not yet,” he said ahead of the trip to Aston Villa.
“We have to die on the pitch first. Only then could we lose a game. We have to fight.”
He doubled down on the message: “Losers cry, the losers think negative. I don’t want people close to me to be crying or think in a different way from me.”
Tough Test Ahead
Villa, fresh off a strong run and sitting in the Europa League semi-finals, could seal a top-five finish and UEFA Champions League qualification this weekend.
But, there is some hope for Spurs, atleast on the injury front — James Maddison has been back on the bench after recovering from an ACL injury suffered in pre-season.
With four games left, it’s simple now: results or relegation.
(with AFP inputs)
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