Mathys Tel’s ridiculous challenge on Ethan Ampadu was a stark reminder of how fragile Tottenham Hotspur remain. The left winger’s attempt at an overhead kick in his own box, which struck the centre-back in the head nearly eight feet off the ground, resulted in a penalty that summed up the team’s enduring self-destructive tendencies. It may have been the highest altitude penalty awarded in the Premier League this season; it was certainly the stupidest. Never underestimate the Spursiness of this Spurs side.
De Zerbi’s Impact Amidst Fragility
Roberto De Zerbi’s influence at Spurs is undeniable, but the team’s capacity for self-destruction remains. Leading 1-0 with 20 minutes left, Tottenham were on the verge of their first home league win in 156 days. A victory would have put them four points clear of the relegation zone with two games to go, effectively averting the crisis. Instead, Tel’s moment of madness handed Leeds United a penalty, and the match ended in a draw. The gap to West Ham is now just two points, with Spurs facing Chelsea away after the FA Cup final and Everton at home, while West Ham play Newcastle away and Leeds at home. The momentum that seemed to be swinging decisively towards Tottenham has stalled.
The Cost of Previous Stumbles
Those five league games under Igor Tudor, where Spurs took only one point, now seem like a wasted opportunity. Even two or three more points would have made a significant difference. The 44 days of confusion, ever-changing formations, mystifying selections, and brutal press conferences feel like a different era. It was hard to reconcile this side, at least in the first hour, with the team that lost limply at Fulham and was told by their manager they lacked attack, midfield, defence, and brain.
The improvement under De Zerbi has been stark. The adaptation to his football was not immediate—he started with a defeat at Sunderland and a home draw with Brighton—but in the three games since, his impact is clear. Spurs now draw opponents onto them, play confidently in tight spaces, and show organisation and a gameplan. Yet, they remain extremely fragile.
Self-Destruction as Identity
No matter how positive the mood before kick-off, Spurs remain prone to self-destruction. Not since August had they gone into a game after back-to-back league wins. There were smiles and an expectant hubbub. For the first time in a long while, the pre-match montage extolling Danny Blanchflower’s glory game didn’t seem sarcastic. The pitch-side announcer Paul Coyte’s “Up the Spurs!” rallying cry was met with an expectant roar. By the final whistle, however, there was booing, though some may have been directed at referee Jarred Gillett.
“Together always,” read the tifo in the South Stand. It’s the sort of thing troubled sides always say, but it’s easier to believe when momentum is in your favour. Even VAR decisions seemed to be going Tottenham’s way: a marginal offside call denied Dominic Calvert-Lewin a penalty just before half-time. But it wouldn’t last. Gillett may have missed Tel’s kick to Ampadu’s head, but VAR official Craig Pawson did not.
Wilted Under Pressure
At that, Spurs wilted, at least until the final minutes of a bafflingly long injury time when they forced a string of corners. Perhaps it was the dearth of creators on the bench, a side-effect of an implausibly long injury list (though James Maddison did return), but it felt like a loss of belief. The zip disappeared from their game. Tel vanished. Randal Kolo Muani was far less involved. Passes were misplaced, anxiety returned. Only the sharp reflexes of Antonin Kinsky and the crossbar prevented Sean Longstaff from grabbing a late winner. The spirit has improved under De Zerbi, but self-confidence cannot be restored overnight.
Opportunity Still in Their Hands
What Spurs must focus on is how much better they were before their heads dropped after conceding the equaliser. They really should have been ahead before half-time, perhaps decisively. Tel scored six minutes into the second half, but they couldn’t find a second, leaving them vulnerable to a moment of thoughtlessness that gave Leeds the penalty.
It is still in their hands. Given the goal difference situation, a win and a draw would effectively guarantee safety. But that’s four points, and if Spurs hadn’t conceded the late equaliser to Brighton and held on here, they’d already have them. The worst thing they could do is dwell on such thoughts, on the fact that they could already be safe. But equally, if Tottenham do end up going down, it will be the result of profound carelessness. De Zerbi has already changed some of their habits, but the most damaging are deep-rooted. At some level, being Spursy is just who Spurs are.
