adminA number of players are rising to the occasion as Tottenham fight to secure their Premier League status.
Spurs are finding form at the most important stage of the season. Roberto De Zerbi’s impact on the side is increasingly evident—his expectations have been clearly communicated, and the squad is responding. The 46-year-old has also shown he is prepared to make difficult decisions.
With Tottenham still locked in a relegation battle alongside West Ham, De Zerbi has chosen a hardened, experienced midfield over youthful options.
Against Aston Villa, he started Conor Gallagher, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Joao Palhinha together for the first time, and the trio outworked and outthought Villa’s midfield of Youri Tielemans, Ross Barkley, and Lamare Bogarde.
Ian Wright believes two players will be crucial to Tottenham’s survival
The reorganisation of the midfield was key to Spurs’ 2-1 victory at Villa Park, with Gallagher delivering his finest display since his winter move from Atletico Madrid and scoring a stunning first goal for the club.
The England international thrived in an advanced free role, underpinned by the solid foundation provided by Palhinha and Bentancur. Palhinha—who scored the winner at Wolves—was preferred to Yves Bissouma in the double pivot, and he added the defensive security, physical edge, and experience needed to neutralise Villa’s powerful midfield.
Arsenal legend Ian Wright was struck by Tottenham’s performance and singled out Gallagher and Palhinha as pivotal to the north London club’s hopes of staying up.
“Gallagher and Palhinha were unbelievable. Watching them, unbelievable it was,” Wright said on the Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast. “There’s no way they’re going down with those two.”
Confidence grows with victories
Before their late-April win at Wolves, Tottenham had gone more than four months without a league victory. Building on that result by beating Villa away has given the players a major lift in both belief and morale.
De Zerbi’s shift to rely on trusted, experienced midfielders has paid off. Replacing the injured Xavi Simons remains difficult, and with James Maddison still unavailable, the Italian manager has freed Gallagher by pushing him into a more advanced position. That has allowed the England man to exert far greater influence in the last two matches than previously.
Opting for the more dependable and streetwise Palhinha over Bissouma has not only liberated Gallagher but also given the defence extra protection. The pair have excelled in the past two wins, and if they can maintain that level, Tottenham’s chances of top-flight survival will be significantly strengthened.
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