Roberto De Zerbi has made clear that whether he remains at Tottenham next season will come down to alignment with the board — not simply which division the club is in.
The Italian initially pledged he would be “the coach of Tottenham next season no matter what” after signing a five-year deal, but a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland left Spurs in the bottom three with six games to go and still seeking their first win of 2026.
Speaking exclusively to Sky Sports, De Zerbi said relegation would not be the automatic deciding factor. Instead he insisted the crucial issue is “to keep the relationship with the board and to have the same ideas in the project.” When asked if shared vision mattered more than the league they play in, he replied: “Yes. Everyone on the same page.”
Michael Bridge’s analysis underlines De Zerbi’s ambition and conviction that, if Spurs avoid the drop, they can re-establish themselves among the Premier League’s top six. With just six matches remaining, however, that prospect is far from guaranteed. Bridge points out that De Zerbi has repeatedly made clear he can only operate at full capacity when the club reciprocates his commitment — a principle he applied at Marseille and Brighton — and the next transfer window will be a major test of that relationship. Whether fighting to win promotion back or to push for European qualification, De Zerbi wants to feel backed by the board both in strategy and in resources.
De Zerbi has also begun working on team unity. Ahead of his first home game against his former club Brighton — a win that would temporarily lift Spurs out of the relegation zone — he took the squad out for dinner and said he needs to know the players better. He urged immediate focus on the run-in and on restoring confidence: they have no time to study long-term problems and must concentrate on the next match.
Alongside tactical ideas, De Zerbi stressed the importance of mentality. He said the squad must share responsibility, push through adversity and not give in to despair. “We need players with personality and character. Otherwise they don’t play with me,” he added, making clear selection will reflect attitude as well as ability.
The injury to captain Cristian Romero removes a strong on-field voice, and De Zerbi identified a number of players he expects to step up in leadership roles. He mentioned Micky van de Ven, Rodrigo Bentancur and Palhinha as examples, and urged Dominic Solanke to show greater presence and bite despite his quality as a striker. He also praised Xavi Simons as a young leader on the ball who has the temperament to accept pressure but said more characters are needed across the squad.
Callum Bishop’s analysis highlights the problem: Spurs field one of the Premier League’s youngest squads this season, and when a team is filled with youthful talent it still requires experienced heads to manage pressure. With senior figures absent through injury, the dressing room lacks those calming influences now. Players who have never been through a relegation battle are being asked to provide leadership under intense scrutiny. With six games left, someone must take the initiative and guide Tottenham through the run-in, or the club will confront a difficult summer reshaping the squad and defining De Zerbi’s long-term role.