Tottenham boss Roberto de Zerbi delivered a passionate and unfiltered press conference ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash against Aston Villa at Villa Park (kick-off 19:00 BST). The Italian manager didn't hold back as he addressed his team's current struggles, the importance of mentality, and the return of playmaker James Maddison.
De Zerbi kicked off by identifying what he calls "the most important challenge now" – silencing the internal doubts creeping into his squad. "This voice produces negative thoughts and says we are unlucky, we have too many injuries," he explained. "I think it's all negative things and it's rubbish. I want to keep the focus on ourselves and the quality of my players."
In a candid moment, the Spurs boss drew a firm line in the sand: "Losers cry, they think negative – and I don't want people close to me crying or thinking a different way than me. I heard 'no, it's impossible, we are crying, everyone, we are relegated' – no? Not yet. We have to die on the pitch. We have to play, we have to fight. We have two points less than West Ham."
Turning to Sunday's opponents, De Zerbi showed respect without fear. "We go to play against one of the best teams in the Premier League right now, but if Tottenham win at Villa Park, it's not a miracle. Maybe we lose, but we have the quality to win this game. It's not a miracle. We have to be positive."
On James Maddison's availability, De Zerbi offered a cautious but optimistic outlook. "He is a special player, but we have to consider physical condition and a lot of things. I think he can be important in the next three games." The manager confirmed goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is unavailable, while Dominic Solanke will miss the Villa match with a hamstring injury and no timeframe has been set for his return. Defender Destiny Udogie is available, though De Zerbi isn't sure if he can start.
When asked about negativity in football, De Zerbi didn't mince words. "Yes. We have a lot of injuries, we lost two points with Brighton, and in Sunderland we conceded one stupid goal and didn't deserve to lose the game."
As for the team's mentality heading into a crucial run of fixtures, De Zerbi summed it up simply: "I feel this pressure. But pressure is a privilege. We have to use it to push forward, not to break."