‘it’s Not Finished Yet’: De Zerbi Determined To Stay Positive Despite Brighton Body Blow

Roberto De Zerbi has warned he has nary clip for immoderate negativity among his Tottenham players aft they were denied nan chance to climb retired of nan relegation area by an injury-time equaliser from his erstwhile nine Brighton.

Georginio Rutter’s injury-time onslaught made it 15 games without a triumph for Spurs aft they had doubly led, done Pedro Porro past Xavi Simons. The tie near Tottenham successful nan bottommost 3 and a constituent down West Ham earlier they recreation to Crystal Palace connected Monday night. Nottingham Forest, 1 constituent up of nan Hammers, big Burnley connected Sunday.

De Zerbi could not hide his disappointment pinch nan consequence but was enthused by his side’s performance. He made nan bold prediction that they were tin of winning their past 5 matches but admitted that would trust connected his players continuing to show nan belief that they tin forestall nan nine being relegated for nan first clip since 1977.

“I ever thought and believed successful nan value of nan players. In this infinitesimal we request this spirit, this attitude, this mentality. It’s not vanished yet,” he said. “Everyone of america knows it’s a reliable moment, it’s a difficult situation. Now it’s difficult to perceive my words. But if you watch nan players, if you analyse nan level of nan players, I deliberation we tin triumph 5 games successful a row. Not to beryllium arrogant, because I’m not arrogant now, particularly now. But we person nan qualities capable to conflict and to triumph games successful a row.”

Asked if his players were dejected aft conceding specified a precocious goal, De Zerbi added: “No. They person to travel maine and not deliberation and perceive to me. They person to perceive to me. They person to beryllium stronger and travel to nan training crushed connected Monday day pinch a smile, because different they spell location immediately. I person nary clip to spot antagonistic people, to spot sad players aliases sad assistants. No, we are fortunate because we are moving successful a large club, a large stadium. We are moving successful nan Premier League. We person nan qualities, nan correct qualities to triumph nan game. So we person to beryllium positive, because I don’t for illustration nan group who cry, who deliberation successful a antagonistic way.”

Xavi Simons aft Georginio Rutter’s precocious equaliser. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Fabian Hürzeler compared Kaoru Mitoma’s opening extremity for his broadside to Marco van Basten’s volley for nan Netherlands against nan USSR successful nan 1988 European Championship last erstwhile he wasn’t moreover born. But nan 33-year-old backed Tottenham to flight relegation nether De Zerbi, whom he succeeded arsenic Brighton head successful 2024.

“I deliberation they person unbelievable players successful their squad,” he said. “They person successful their beforehand statement players who tin make a quality successful 1 action, and that’s what they showed today.”