Wolves 0-1 Spurs | Every word of Roberto De Zerbi’s post-match press conference

Here’s what he had to say...

Regardless of what was happening elsewhere, your players had to prove their worth today. What can you about their character?

Roberto: “Yeah, I think in the first half, in the first 30, 35 minutes, we played well. We didn't create big chances to score, but anyway we had total control of the game. Then, I don't know the pressure, maybe we didn't win any games in 2026, maybe this pressure, maybe because we played against Wolverhampton, we lost distances, we lost order on the pitch, every one of us wanted to go one-to-one, but anyway, I'm happy for the result. I hope this result can change something in our head, in our mentality for the other results. It's already very tough to win a game for us. If we put our heads on the other teams, it becomes too tough for me."

Do you have an update on Xavi and Solanke?

Roberto: “Solanke is a muscular injury, I don't know what level of injury, and for Xavi it's a problem of knee, and we're going to see in the next days, Monday or Tuesday. For Solanke, it's not a big problem. I don't know how many games we lose him, but I would like to know the real situation of Xavi, because the knee is always different than the muscular injury. He felt pain, but now I spoke with him two minutes ago, he feels better than at the beginning of the injury.”

It was a big moment for Antonin Kinsky at the end - how proud are you of him?

Roberto: “He deserves this day, because he played very well, especially today. He was crucial for the result, he deserves everything, because he's a good guy, he's a good goalkeeper, and especially after Madrid, he deserves a day like today.”

You said that one win could be transformative, what was it like afterwards in the dressing room?

Roberto: “I hope so, but I wouldn't like to lose any other players, because Romero, Kudus, now Solanke and maybe Xavi, we can win the games with the players, not with the coaches. The coaches are important, but the players are more important. I want to be positive. Kolo Muani started the game very well, and then he lost confidence. I have to go every day for lunch with Kolo Muano this week, every day, breakfast, lunch and dinner, because he's a top player, he has potential, and I want him to play better, he feels better on the pitch, he tries to go one-to-one, to shoot something with more energy, because he can do that.”

Is there belief from the players that they can save the season?

Roberto: “I think the players, they know what they are and what they can do on the pitch, especially this season, because it's true, we didn't win a game in 2026, but on the table in the Champions League, they finished fifth place, no? In the Champions League, I think it's not so easy, or it's easier than the Premier League, so they have to be positive, they have to feel full confidence, because they are good, and not to see the other results, for example, West Ham. We have to move on and prepare for the next games. Now, the first game is at Villa Park. That's it.”

You were fist-pumping in front of the away fans at the end - what does that mean for you and the squad, and what does it mean for the fans as well?

Roberto: “I believe to stay up. If I stay here, it's because I'm positive, now, because I'm a coach of Tottenham, Tottenham is not important on the pitch, if you are Tottenham or another team, the most important are the qualities of the players, and the human level of the players. It was a surprise for me, because I didn't know them, and when I knew better my players, I understood that we have the possibility, the chance to stay up. We have two points, not 10 points, we have two points from West Ham. West Ham are a good team, but also Tottenham are very good players and a very good team.”

What surprised you about the players, what was it?

Roberto: “When I watched the game, or if you watch the game on the stand or TV, you can't understand if they have the right spirit, they have the right attitude, and I work with them every day, and all players are professional, good guys, they are suffering for this situation, just to give them confidence and order on the pitch, because I didn't like the second half at all, we could play better, we have to play better, much better than the second half, we have to play like the first 30 minutes, maybe creating more chances to score and more shots on goal."

If Xavi is injured, Solanke as well – are you going to have to get creative to find other ways to create chances?

Roberto: “We can play with Mathys on the left, Kolo Muani on the right, Souza on the right, Bergvall on the left, and we have to create. I don't want to change too much, three defenders, four defenders, I don't want to put more confusion on the players, especially this season, because they changed a lot of tactical dispositions, to be clear and simple, but for your question, we need to stay strong in the head, positive in ourselves.”