admin‘I feel sorry for them’- Roberto De Zerbi makes painful Spurs admission as fears worsen
Roberto De Zerbi’s tenure as Tottenham manager got off to a losing start, as his side fell to a 1-0 defeat away to Sunderland. The result leaves Spurs two points from safety with just six matches remaining.
A visibly dejected De Zerbi admitted that his players currently lack the “confidence to play great football,” adding that he “feels sorry for them.” The Italian was brought in to replace Igor Tudor, who lasted only seven matches before parting ways with the club last month. Tottenham now sit 18th in the table, staring at the very real prospect of their first relegation since 1977.
In his first press conference, De Zerbi had promised to set aside his usual philosophy in favor of grinding out results. That approach didn’t pay off at Sunderland, where Spurs managed 48% possession but failed to make it count.
Speaking to Match of the Day after the match, De Zerbi said: “We played a good game, maybe not enough to win, but we were unlucky in a few situations in the first half. I can’t fault the players—they gave their best in attitude and spirit. We can play better, and we need to work on that. My job isn’t so much about coaching them on the pitch; they’re good guys, and I feel sorry for them. I want to give them confidence.”
He continued: “Tactically, we played well in the first half, with and without the ball. But we lack the confidence to play great football. The players can perform better once they feel more assured. They don’t need a coach right now—they need a big brother or a father. They need confidence. Once we win a game, everything will change.”
That change needs to come quickly. Tottenham face Brighton next Saturday, a crucial match that takes place before two of their relegation rivals—Nottingham Forest and West Ham—play. A win, something Spurs haven’t managed in the Premier League in 2026, would lift them out of the relegation zone.
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