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Tom Hamilton
Multiple Authors
LONDON — Roberto De Zerbi stated that Tottenham’s final match of the season against Everton this Sunday holds greater significance than their Europa League final from last season, as they aim to secure their topflight status and avoid relegation.
The Spurs suffered a 2-1 defeat against Chelsea on Tuesday, leaving them to fight for survival on the final day.
– While Arsenal claim Premier League glory, Spurs are on the brink
Tottenham headed to Stamford Bridge knowing that a draw would likely ensure their survival for another year. However, Chelsea emerged victorious, with Enzo Fernández scoring a long-range goal in the first half, followed by Andrey Santos doubling the lead in the 67th minute.
Richarlison found the net in the 74th minute for Spurs, but they were unable to equalize.
This defeat keeps Tottenham two points ahead of West Ham, thanks to a much better goal difference. In the season finale, Spurs will host Everton, while West Ham will face Leeds at the London Stadium.
“Sunday is the final for Tottenham, not in Bilbao against Man United [last season]; this is the most crucial game,” De Zerbi commented.
“We are playing for something more significant than a trophy — the club’s pride, history, and dignity are more vital than any silverware. Trophies can be won, but maintaining dignity and pride is paramount.”
“In the past 45 days, my focus has solely been on one objective. Each player is concentrated on survival; they are working harder during the week, and we all want to achieve that goal.”
James Maddison made an impact off the bench for Spurs, but De Zerbi noted that he is still restricted to around 20 minutes as he continues to regain full fitness after an ACL injury.
His presence revitalized Spurs, and late in the match, they seemed poised to win a penalty as the referee, Stuart Attwell, blew the whistle for a foul by Marc Cucurella on Micky van de Ven right before a corner.
Despite Spurs’ protests for a penalty, Attwell ruled that the corner had not been taken yet. De Zerbi refrained from commenting on this incident but urged fans to rally behind the team for the match against Everton on Sunday.
“They have been fantastic, and we owe them our gratitude,” he said. “Discussing the penalty could distract us and drain our energy. My attention is on selecting the best XI and preparing them effectively. It’s a significant day for us.”
On the other hand, Chelsea’s interim head coach Calum McFarlane tried to downplay any injury worries concerning Reece James and Levi Colwill, who both were absent from the starting lineup.
“Levi just returned from a serious injury, so it was too soon after the cup final; we couldn’t jeopardize him tonight,” McFarlane explained. “Same goes for Reece. We didn’t want to take any risks.”
He added that João Pedro has a “slight knock,” and they would have to “wait and see” if he would be fit for the upcoming match against Sunderland on Sunday.
McFarlane was pleased with Fernández’s performance and commended the team’s ability to bounce back after the disappointment of their FA Cup final.
“It was great to secure the win,” he said. “From the outset, it was clear we lacked the necessary energy following the psychological and physical toll of the FA Cup final.
“We deserved the 2-0 lead, but Spurs showed more vigor towards the end. They had more time to prepare for the game. We simply had to dig deep for this result.”