‘we Need To Stay Strong In The Head’: De Zerbi Wants Mentality Shift At Injury-hit Spurs

Robert De Zerbi is waiting connected nan fittingness of 2 much players, aft Dominic Solanke and Xavi Simons were forced disconnected injured astatine Molineux connected Saturday, but he is optimistic that nan 1-0 triumph complete Wolves “can alteration thing successful our mentality”.

The Spurs caput coach celebrated his first triumph successful complaint of nan relegation-threatened Europa League holders pinch nan visiting fans successful nan Steve Bull Stand, exchanging fist pumps and belief.

João Palhinha scored nan decisive extremity successful nan 82nd infinitesimal to let Spurs, aft past week’s 2-2 tie against Brighton, to enactment wrong 2 points of West Ham, who achieved a precocious 2-1 triumph complete Everton.

With 9 players already missing, Spurs will dream Solanke and Simons are not missing for long. But they will caput to Aston Villa adjacent Sunday pinch renewed faith, wished to disregard different teams’ fortunes. “I dream this consequence tin alteration thing successful our head, successful our mentality,” De Zerbi said. “Because I judge to enactment up. If I enactment [arrive] here, it’s because I’m positive.

“If you are Tottenham aliases different team, nan astir important are nan qualities of nan players and nan quality level of nan players.”

The erstwhile Brighton and Marseille head said his religion successful his players has accrued since he has been training pinch them. “It was a astonishment for maine because I didn’t cognize them,” he explained. “When I knew amended my players, I understood that we person nan possibility, nan chance to enactment up. We person 2 points [gap to West Ham], not 10 points.

“If you watch nan crippled from a guidelines aliases connected TV, you can’t understand if they person nan correct spirit, they person nan correct attitude. I activity pinch them each time and each players are professional, bully guys. They are suffering from this situation. [My task is] to springiness them assurance and bid connected nan pitch.

Xavi Simons was injured successful nan 2nd half of Tottenham’s 1-0 triumph astatine Wolves. Photograph: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Getty Images

“I want to beryllium clear and simple, but we request to enactment beardown successful nan head, affirmative successful ourselves.”

De Zerbi was intent connected talking up his attacking options, but said Solanke has a limb musculus wounded – “I don’t cognize what level” – while Xavi has a knee problem. “We’re going to spot successful nan adjacent days, Monday aliases Tuesday,” he said.