Tottenham : la méthode surprenante de Roberto De Zerbi pour éviter la relégation

Tottenham Hotspur finds itself in a precarious position as the 2025-26 Premier League season nears its conclusion, sitting just one point above the relegation zone with seven matches remaining. The club appointed Roberto De Zerbi as its third head coach of the season on March 31, 2026, in a last-ditch effort to avoid dropping out of England’s top flight for the first time since 1978.

The Italian tactician, who previously managed Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League, signed a long-term contract with Tottenham after replacing Igor Tudor, who served only 44 days as interim head coach. De Zerbi’s arrival comes amid significant challenges, including a difficult fixture list and ongoing scrutiny related to his past association with Mason Greenwood during his time at Marseille.

De Zerbi’s Tactical Shift: From 4-4-2 to 4-3-3

One of the most immediate and visible changes implemented by De Zerbi has been a tactical reorganization of the squad. Moving away from the 4-4-2 formation favored by his predecessor Igor Tudor, De Zerbi has installed a 4-3-3 system that better utilizes the personnel available to him.

According to Premier League analysis, the shift represents a fundamental change in approach. When comparing Tottenham’s starting XI from Tudor’s final home match—a 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest—to De Zerbi’s first team sheet in a home fixture, seven changes were made. Notably, only center-back Kevin Danso and striker Dominic Solanke retained their starting positions in both lineups.

The tactical adjustment appears designed to create better balance between defensive solidity and attacking threat. De Zerbi has emphasized placing players in positions where they appear most comfortable, representing a return to basics while implementing his own philosophical stamp on the team.

Early Signs of Improvement Amid Adversity

Despite the relegation-threatened context, De Zerbi’s initial impact has shown promise. In his first home match in charge—a 2-2 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion on Matchweek 33—Tottenham produced what was described as “one of their best performances of the season.”

The match featured a last-gasp equalizer from Brighton that proved disappointing for the north Londoners, but De Zerbi remained optimistic afterward. Speaking in his post-match press conference, the Italian coach stated: “Now it’s difficult to hear my words, but if you watch the players, if you analyse the level of the players, I think we can win five games in a row.”

De Zerbi acknowledged the boldness of the statement given that Tottenham had not tasted a league victory in 2026 at that point, but expressed confidence in the squad’s qualities: “Not to be arrogant, given that I’m not arrogant, especially now, but we have enough qualities to fight and to win games in a row.”

Context: Tottenham’s 2025-26 Season Struggles

Tottenham’s difficult season began under Thomas Frank, who was appointed head coach on a three-year contract prior to the campaign but was dismissed on February 11, 2026. Igor Tudor then took over as interim coach on February 14, only to be relieved of his duties on March 29 after 44 days in charge.

The club’s struggles have been evident across multiple competitions. In the Premier League, Tottenham has suffered significant defeats including 1-4 losses to Arsenal (both home and away) and a 0-3 loss to Nottingham Forest at home on March 22, 2026. In European competition, they experienced a 2-5 loss to Atlético Madrid in the Champions League on March 10, 2026.

Despite these challenges, Tottenham has recorded some positive results. Their biggest win of the season came in the Champions League—a 4-0 victory over Copenhagen at home on November 4, 2025. Domestically, Richarlison has emerged as the team’s top goalscorer with nine league goals and ten in all competitions as of April 18, 2026.

Ownership and Leadership Changes

Tottenham’s leadership has undergone significant changes during the 2025-26 season. Daniel Levy served as chairman until September 4, 2025, after which Peter Charrington took over on an interim basis. The club is owned by ENIC Group.

These off-field transitions have coincided with on-field struggles, contributing to the volatile environment that necessitated multiple coaching changes within a single season.

The Road Ahead: Survival Mission

With seven Premier League matches remaining, Tottenham’s immediate focus under De Zerbi is clear: climbing the table to secure Premier League status for the 2026-27 season. The coach has emphasized that this objective will be the “complete focus until the final whistle of the last game of the season.”

Tottenham’s historical context adds weight to the situation. The club has maintained 48 consecutive seasons in the top flight of English football and 34 consecutive seasons in the Premier League. A relegation would end these streaks and represent a significant sporting and financial blow to one of England’s historic clubs.

As De Zerbi works to implement his methods and rebuild team morale, the coming weeks will determine whether his surprising approach can achieve what previous coaching regimes failed to accomplish this season—keeping Tottenham in the Premier League.

The next confirmed checkpoint for Tottenham is their upcoming Premier League fixture, with updates on team selection, tactics, and match preparations expected to come directly from the club through official channels as the survival push enters its critical phase.

What do you think of De Zerbi’s chances of keeping Tottenham up? Share your thoughts in the comments below.