Roberto De Zerbi fears Tottenham are struggling to halt their slide because players are haunted by the spectre of relegation.
Spurs were beaten 1-0 at Sunderland in De Zerbi’s first game in charge, a result which leaves them in the Premier League’s relegation zone with six games to play.
They have not won for 14 league games and De Zerbi nodded in agreement when asked if the fear of relegation was inhibiting his players.
‘Yes, I think so,’ he said. ‘The players are all good guys and suffering for this moment. They are not happy when they lose. They are not happy to see Tottenham at the bottom of the table.
‘During the week they play better because their heads are more clear, during the game it is different for sure.
‘I know them as people and players and because of that, I am positive. We will not win the game just because we are Tottenham. You cannot win the game on paper. You need to win by fighting on the pitch. You need to score a goal.
Roberto De Zerbi believes the fear of relegation is damaging his players’ performances
Tottenham suffered a seventh loss in eight Premier League games at Sunderland on Sunday
‘They are human, and they are suffering maybe too much and altogether we have to stay close, to be positive, to work, to improve in the details in the football, but to be better in the mentality.
‘My job is to help them. We have quality to win one game and that is the target now, because one win and we can see everything is different.’
Nordi Mukiele scored Sunderland’s goal with the help of a deflection from Micky van de Ven. Spurs lost captain Cristian Romero, who left the pitch in tears after he was injured in a collision with his own goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky.
De Zerbi thought it was a knee injury but refused to elaborate. A report from Romero’s native Argentina suggested that he has some instability in his knee and that physios would test for a medial collateral ligament injury.
‘Maybe yes knee but I don’t want to say nothing until we know more,’ said the Spurs boss. ‘We have to see in the next days. I hope for us not important problem because he is a crucial player. A good guy, top player, big personality and we need him to finish the season.’
