*This content was translated by AI.
Roberto De Zerbi (47), the manager of England's Tottenham, has vowed not to give up until the end.
On the 1st (Korean time), British Sky Sports reported that "Tottenham manager De Zerbi sent a strong message, saying, 'We are not yet relegated.'"
Tottenham will face Aston Villa in the 35th round of the English Premier League (EPL) at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, on the 4th. It will not be an easy match. As an away game and with Aston Villa currently sitting fifth in the league this season (17 wins, 7 draws, 10 losses, 58 points), they possess a stronger squad than Tottenham. Aston Villa is also desperate to qualify for the UEFA Champions League (UCL), making it highly likely they will field a strong lineup.
In contrast, Tottenham is facing setbacks in various areas. Although they secured a dramatic victory in their previous match against Wolverhampton, achieving their first league win of 2026, they are struggling with match operations due to a high number of injured players. '100 billion won striker' Dominic Solanke is on the injured list, and Savi Simons, who inherited Son Heung-min's (LAFC) No. 7 jersey, has been ruled out for the season. Simons suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the Wolverhampton match.
Currently, Tottenham sits 18th in the league with 8 wins, 10 draws, and 16 losses (34 points). West Ham, engaged in a fierce battle to avoid relegation and currently in 17th place, has 9 wins, 9 draws, and 16 losses (36 points). West Ham will face Brentford (9th in the league) in this round, putting them in a better situation than Tottenham, who must face Aston Villa. If Tottenham loses to Aston Villa and West Ham secures a victory, the gap between the two teams will widen to five points.
Consequently, some football experts are predicting Tottenham's relegation. Earlier, Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge also pointed out Tottenham's injury woes, noting they could be at a disadvantage in the relegation battle. Others share this view.
According to the sports betting site Oddschecker, 26 European betting companies have analyzed that Tottenham has the highest probability of being relegated to the Championship (second division) in relation to EPL relegation. Among the four teams with a high risk of relegation—Tottenham, West Ham, Nottingham Forest, and Leeds United—Tottenham received the lowest odds. Lower odds mean a smaller payout but a higher probability of winning, indicating that Tottenham's relegation is expected.
However, Manager De Zerbi conveyed his determination not to give up until the end. According to Sky Sports, when reporter Bridge expressed negative opinions about Tottenham, De Zerbi said, "I am not here to fight. However, I have heard the word 'impossible.' Many people say we are relegated. But we are not yet. We must keep running and fighting until we lose the match."
De Zerbi continued, "We are two points behind West Ham, but they also have difficult matches ahead. Our best moments are certainly not here. It is a rough and tough period. But losers always think negatively. I do not want my teammates to be sad or think differently from me." He then emphasized, "Some say it is impossible for Tottenham to win two or three games in a row this year because there are too few victories. But all such talk is merely negative garbage. We want to focus on ourselves and our performance."
Manager De Zerbi promised to secure three points in the match against Aston Villa. He stated, "Tottenham is facing one of the best teams in the EPL. I greatly respect Aston Villa manager Unai Emery. However, it would not be a miracle if Tottenham wins this away match. Although Solanke and Simons are injured, Randall Kolo Muani, Mathys Tel, and Richarlison are still available to play. They have different characteristics, but they are all good players. We also have Pedro Porro, Destiny Udogie, Micky van de Ven, Rodrigo Bentancur, Joao Palhinha, and Conor Gallagher. Because of this, we have no time to listen to bad words," injecting energy into the team.
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*This content was translated by AI.
