LONDON — The positive for Tottenham is that they have extended their lead over 18th place West Ham. Their fate in the Premier League remains in their own hands. The downside, however, is that their final two fixtures take place at a stadium where they have won just once in 34 encounters, and at another venue where they haven’t triumphed in their last 10 visits.
The challenge of facing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, a match that fans have eagerly labeled as ‘relegate Spurs day,’ looms ominously. Even more concerning for Spurs supporters is their home ground, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which seems to invoke a growing sense of dread instead of comfort.
Following a disappointing draw against Leeds on Monday and with no league victories at their £1 billion home in 2023, Spurs likely need to pull off what seems nearly impossible: a win at home in the season’s final match against Everton to avoid relegation to the Championship.
– Tottenham 1-1 Leeds: De Zerbi’s side misses another opportunity for safety
This situation could have been different. With 20 minutes to go against Leeds, the atmosphere in the stadium shifted from despair to hope. Mathys Tel’s
But then tragedy struck; Tel attempted a bicycle kick in the box that caught Ethan Ampadu in the head, leading to a penalty which Dominic Calvert-Lewin converted. A blow to Spurs’ morale.
As the ghosts of past failures returned to haunt them, the spirit of the fans dipped further during the final moments when James Maddison‘s penalty claims were dismissed and the final whistle deepened the sense of loss.
“He is young and talented,” De Zerbi remarked about Tel when speaking with Sky Sports. “I’ll hug him. He knows he made a mistake; these things can happen.”
After the match, De Zerbi’s demeanor shifted; he was energetic and animated, embodying the role of passionate coach. He was seen gesturing emphatically and sprinting beyond his technical area, resulting in a booking. He later commented that the officials were not calm enough during the game.
De Zerbi understands how crucial this moment is for Nuno Espirito Santo’s West Ham; just a few weeks ago, West Ham had missed a critical opportunity to pull ahead of Tottenham during a goalless draw with Crystal Palace, allowing Spurs to recover their position.
This draw might serve to keep West Ham at bay, as now they need to outperform Spurs in order to survive.
“We are on the right path,” De Zerbi asserted.
“It will be challenging until the final whistle against Everton, but after our game against Sunderland, it was hard to envision maintaining just a two-point lead over West Ham.”
“I remember well that Sunderland game; it was my first, and we must not forget where we were just 15 days ago after a string of four games that brought us eight points.”
Spurs had anticipated battling against a Leeds team revitalized from their tactical shift, only to discover too late that their expectations were overly optimistic. Antonin Kinsky denied Joe Rodon, who sought vengeance against his former team, with an early brilliant save.
A flurry of opportunities from Spurs, including attempts by João Palhinha, Richarlison, and Rodrigo Bentancur, failed to find the net due to a lack of precision against Karl Darlow.
Tel eventually produced the needed quality when he controlled a loose ball just outside the area, skillfully finding the top corner with a delicate shot.
Unfortunately for Spurs, their fortunes turned again, with missed opportunities and contentious VAR calls adversely affecting their performance.
Recent events have underscored the importance of having VAR’s favor on your side. For the hosts, the controversial decisions involving Tel’s clearance and Lukas Nmecha‘s challenge on Maddison did not fall in their favor.
“Perhaps the officials were feeling the pressure from the previous day’s Arsenal match,” De Zerbi speculated in the aftermath.
Several of Spurs’ home losses this season have involved critical decisions going against them. Nevertheless, a lack of luck is often indicative of a relegated team. They now look towards Newcastle, hoping for a stroke of good fortune.
– Are Tottenham facing relegation? What the statistics and charts reveal