De Zerbi: Tottenham’s Mental Issues Fixed After Villa Win in Relegation Fight
Conor Gallagher and Richarlison scored as Spurs won back-to-back games, going 1 point above West Ham with 3 matches left. Tottenham are 17th with games vs Leeds, Chelsea, and Everton remaining in the fight to avoid first relegation since 1977-78.
“I think it was a mental problem and these two wins, I hope we can play with more confidence...”
Tottenham may have finally fixed their mental issues after a 2-1 victory at Aston Villa on Sunday lifted them out of the Premier League drop zone.
Spurs built a 2-0 lead before halftime through Conor Gallagher’s strike from distance and a Richarlison header. Emiliano Buendía pulled one back for Villa in stoppage time, but it wasn’t enough to deny Tottenham a second win in a row.
The result puts fourth-bottom Spurs a point above 18th-placed West Ham with three matches left, setting up a tight battle to avoid relegation.
When Roberto De Zerbi replaced interim boss Igor Tudor in March, Tottenham were winless in 15 Premier League matches dating back to December.
After defeats at Sunderland and a draw with Brighton, Roberto De Zerbi has guided Spurs to crucial road victories against Wolves and Villa. Those results have given Tottenham a real chance of avoiding relegation to the second tier for the first time since 1977-78.
The Italian said the turnaround came down to restoring confidence in a squad that had been shaken by a chaotic campaign.
“I think it was a mental problem and these two wins, I hope we can play with more confidence and better mentality,” he said.
“Villa are a very good team. A lot of very good players, a great manager, but we played very well for 60 minutes without the ball and with the ball.
“I'm pleased with this performance from my players. I know how much they have suffered this season.
“The high pressure is mentality and then in possession we played very well when we had to attack the space or to shoot. My job is to help them and show what they are capable of.”
Conor Gallagher opened his Tottenham account with a long-range strike, his first since joining from Atlético Madrid in January. The England midfielder backed it up with a relentless all-action performance that summed up Spurs’ renewed fight.
“Gallagher, when he plays well, we play with 12 players. He is an amazing player. Kolo Muani and Mathys Tel played an amazing game. The two centre-backs with and without the ball, I am really pleased,” De Zerbi said.
“These two wins, I think, and I hope, mean that we can play with more confidence..” 👏
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 3, 2026
Roberto De Zerbi reacts after another positive result for Tottenham Hotspur.
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Tottenham’s run-in starts at home to Leeds, followed by a trip to Chelsea and a final-day clash with Everton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
West Ham face league leaders Arsenal next, but De Zerbi isn’t assuming anything with the relegation battle still on a knife edge.
“The season is not finished yet. We have to play another three games starting on Monday night with Leeds, they are playing very well,” he said.
"We can't forget what the situation was before Wolves. It was a very sad situation and these memories have to stay in our heads.”
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