Tottenham Hotspur have officially confirmed they have fallen into the Premier League relegation zone for the first time since August 2015, currently sitting 18th in the table, two points adrift of safety but with one game in hand. The team has gone 13 consecutive league matches without a win, with their last victory dating back to December last year. Ahead of their match against Sunderland, several pressing issues facing Tottenham need to be highlighted.
First: the team lacks stability and cohesion
Pundits have pointed out that compared to Tottenham, West Ham United—who escaped the relegation zone with a win this round—have demonstrated the "continuity, unity and clear style" that Tottenham so desperately needs. West Ham United have kept three clean sheets in 2026, while Tottenham have failed to keep a single clean sheet in the Premier League since their 0-0 draw with Brentford.
Second: new manager Roberto De Zerbi has extremely limited time for adjustments
In his first press conference after taking charge, he admitted that the remaining seven matches would only allow him and his coaching staff to teach some basic principles, with absolutely no time to instill complex tactical details. There is also a practical question of whether an attack-minded manager can improve the team's firepower while fixing a leaky defense.
West Ham United boast multiple goal threats such as Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville, as well as technically gifted midfielder Mateus Fernandes—assets that Tottenham currently lack. Tottenham need to secure multiple victories in their final few matches to retain their top-flight status.
