When a team hits rock bottom, the climb back up starts with belief. For Tottenham Hotspur and their head coach Roberto De Zerbi, that belief has been the driving force behind their recent resurgence—and he’s not shy about sharing the secret to their turnaround.
After a grueling 15-game winless streak in the Premier League, Spurs have finally found their footing, securing back-to-back victories. The latest came on Sunday with a gritty 2-1 win over Aston Villa at Villa Park, thanks to goals from Conor Gallagher and Richarlison. That result lifted Tottenham out of the relegation zone and above West Ham, giving them a one-point cushion with just three games left to play.
For De Zerbi, the key isn’t tactical genius or flashy formations—it’s confidence. In his post-match press conference, the Italian manager emphasized that his main job is to make his players believe in themselves, even when the table and outside noise say otherwise.
“Listen, I’m honest. I have one face,” De Zerbi said. “If I say Kolo Muani, Gallagher, Palhinha, and all our players are great level, big level, it’s because I feel it. I don’t want to sell something if I don’t believe in my words. I’m lucky because I’m working with very good players, good people.”
His message is simple but powerful: the squad has the talent, and his role is to transfer that confidence onto the pitch. “My work is just to transfer the confidence, to believe in themselves, and to try to be stronger than the defeat, stronger than the position of the table, stronger than the words all of you normally say about Tottenham—and to show passion, to show value, humility, pride.”
De Zerbi also stressed the importance of perspective. While two wins can change the narrative quickly in football, he’s keeping his squad grounded. “The crucial thing now is to keep in our heads what was the situation before the Wolverhampton game. This is the most important memory to keep in our heads. In football, it’s very easy to change. If you lose you are stupid, if you win you are a champion. No, we have to find the balance.”
With a tough test against Leeds United looming, Tottenham’s survival fight is far from over. But if De Zerbi can keep this newfound belief alive, Spurs might just have the edge they need to finish the season strong.