FRIDAY FEATURE: Can Roberto De Zerbi save Tottenham from relegation? Spurs run-in, odds and rivals analysed

When Roberto De Zerbi walked through the doors at Tottenham Hotspur, it was not a long-term project – it was a rescue mission.

Seven games. One point above the drop. No league wins in months.

This is not a rebuild. This is survival.

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Why Roberto De Zerbi – and why now?

Spurs’ decision to appoint De Zerbi as a replacement for Igor Tudor is as bold as it is risky.

His reputation is built on:

• Progressive, possession-heavy football.
• Tactical bravery.
• Transformational impact (as seen at Brighton).

But those strengths come with risks. His style often takes time to implement – something Tottenham simply do not have.

The key question: can his philosophy deliver points quickly enough?

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The reality: Spurs are in serious trouble

The numbers are alarming.

• Spurs sit 17th, just one point above the relegation zone.
• They have taken just one point from their last 21 available.
• They have not won a league game in 2026.

This is not a blip – it is a collapse.

Even historically, teams in this kind of form rarely survive.

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The relegation battle: who is most likely to go down?

According to projections:

• Wolves – 99%+
• Burnley – 99%+
• West Ham – ~57%
• Tottenham – ~27%
• Nottingham Forest – ~8%
• Leeds – ~7%

Spurs are not the favourites to go down – but they are firmly in danger.

Betting markets broadly reflect this with Spurs roughly 2/1 to be relegated. This is no longer hypothetical. It is very real.

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Comparing the run-ins: Spurs vs rivals

Spurs’ remaining fixtures are now:

• Sunderland (A)
• Brighton (H)
• Wolves (A)
• Aston Villa (A)
• Leeds (H)
• Chelsea (A)
• Everton (H)

Compare that to their rivals:

• West Ham – better recent form, picking up points consistently.
• Nottingham Forest – inconsistent, but still above Spurs.
• Leeds – more stable position and goal difference buffer.

Spurs still face a challenging and unpredictable run-in, with several direct or indirect relegation rivals in that list.

Where it will be won or lost

• Wolves (A) – potentially a direct relegation six-pointer.
• Leeds (H) – another must-win clash against a rival.
• Chelsea (A) – a tough away test where points are far from guaranteed.
• Final game vs Everton (H) – could be decisive if survival goes to the final day.

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Nottingham Forest’s Europa League factor: help or hindrance?

Nottingham Forest are still competing in Europe – and that could be decisive.

On paper, European football stretches squads:

• Extra fixtures
• Travel fatigue
• Squad rotation

This could weaken their league form at a critical time.

However, there’s a flip side:

• Momentum from European success
• Confidence boost
• Squad depth already proven

Forest’s recent form suggests they are coping better than Spurs right now. If anything, Spurs would gladly trade places.

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The contract: short-term fix or long-term vision?

Tottenham Hotspur have not gone short-term – they’ve gone all in.

Reports suggest De Zerbi has signed a five-year contract, a deal that underlines Spurs’ belief that he is not just a firefighter, but the man to lead a new era.

Key details

• Salary believed to be in the region of £15million per year.
• One of the highest-paid managerial contracts in the Premier League.
• Significant financial commitment despite the immediate relegation risk.
• Likely clauses tied to league status and long-term project targets.

This is not a short-term appointment – it is a statement.

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The financial implications: survival is everything

Relegation would be catastrophic for Tottenham.

Estimated impact

• £100m+ loss in Premier League revenue (broadcasting, sponsorship, matchday).
• Potential player sales to balance finances.
• Wage bill pressure, with high earners unlikely to stay in the Championship.
• Commercial damage to a club that has positioned itself as a global brand.

For De Zerbi, the stakes are equally high:

• Survival could justify the huge financial outlay.
• Relegation would leave Spurs paying elite-level wages outside the top flight.

Tottenham’s gamble is clear: back a top-level coach now and trust he delivers quickly.

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Will it go down to the wire?

All signs point to yes.

The data suggests a tight battle between Spurs and West Ham, with Forest and Leeds hovering just above.

Margins are tiny:

• One win could lift a team out of danger.
• One defeat could drop them into the bottom three.

With only seven games left, survival could come down to:

• Goal difference.
• Final-day drama.

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So, is De Zerbi the man to save Spurs?

There are two possible outcomes – and very little in between.

Scenario 1: It works

• Players buy into his system immediately.
• Spurs rediscover attacking identity.
• A couple of wins change everything.

Scenario 2: It fails

• Tactical ideas take too long to embed,
• Defensive issues remain.
• Confidence continues to drain.

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Final verdict

This is one of the most remarkable relegation battles in recent Premier League history.

A club of Tottenham’s size should not be here. And yet, they are.

De Zerbi might be the right manager for Tottenham’s future – but the question is whether he is the right manager for this moment.

Because survival won’t be decided by philosophy. It will be decided by points. And Spurs are running out of time.