Roberto De Zerbi has urged his players to embrace the pressure surrounding Tottenham's fight for Premier League survival, insisting that the desire of rivals to see them relegated should serve as a powerful motivator.
De Zerbi on external pressure
The Italian manager, who took over from Igor Tudor in late March, has emphasized the importance of positive thinking as Spurs prepare for a crucial clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. A draw on Tuesday night would almost certainly secure their top-flight status while condemning West Ham to relegation.
"I am Italian and in Italy it's the same," De Zerbi said. "For the biggest teams, it's the same. We have to accept the pressure. We have to enjoy this pressure. We have to find new motivation from this pressure. It's a good thing for us. If everyone wants Tottenham relegated, it's a big motivation for me and I hope for my players as well."
Historical record at Stamford Bridge
Tottenham have won only once at Stamford Bridge since 1990, a 3-1 league victory under Mauricio Pochettino in 2018, inspired by two goals from Dele Alli. De Zerbi acknowledged the poor record but insisted it is not a concern.
"We spoke this morning about this record," he said. "But the most important is the spirit, the personality for tomorrow – to play a good game, to make points. I explained that the last win before Wolves was 28 December and then we won two games in a row. It's not the record that is important. It's the mood, how you go to play the game."
Team news and discipline
De Zerbi confirmed that Dominic Solanke remains injured but Guglielmo Vicario is available. He hinted that Antonin Kinsky might keep his place in goal after a solid performance in the 1-1 draw against Leeds. The match also brings back memories of the infamous "Battle of the Bridge" in 2016, where nine Spurs players were booked in a heated 2-2 draw.
"Always calm with the blood, with personality, with the right spirit," De Zerbi stressed. "Focus just on the game. Because in our last one against Leeds, when Kinsky saved, we went too strong, too fast, too strong on the ball. Sometimes we have to be more calm."
With 91 yellow cards and four reds this season, Tottenham have the worst disciplinary record in the league, while Chelsea are second-worst with 81 yellows and seven reds.
Motivation from rivalry
De Zerbi concluded by highlighting the positive side of the intense rivalry: "We have to accept that football is nice because of the rivalries. It's good to imagine ourselves celebrating the win in their stadium. If everyone wants Tottenham relegated, I think for one Tottenham player, one Tottenham fan, all the people who work inside Tottenham, it has to be the biggest motivation."
