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When the players returned to training on Monday afternoon, Roberto De Zerbi would not tolerate anyone wallowing in sadness or disappointment. He stated that he wanted to see everyone with a smile on their faces, and anyone who did not smile would be sent home immediately.
Perhaps this approach will work. But there is no escaping the pain of this defeat. In the fifth minute of the eight minutes of stoppage time, Brighton forward Georginio Rutter equalized the score at 2-2.
During the 18 minutes that Tottenham Hotspur were leading, it was hard not to dream of the future, of the transformative power that their first league victory since December might bring, of the relative advantage of 33 points, and of the enormous emotional shift this would create. It is only human to get a little carried away and project the immediate scene onto a better future.
Recently, it seemed that Tottenham only needed one victory to break the deadlock, extricate themselves from their predicament, and regain their former glory. Until Rutter's goal, people felt that they were finally going to win.
De Zerbi's primary challenge is psychological.
Since arriving at Tottenham, he has emphasized that his job is to adjust the players' mental state.
Last week, he said that he must treat the players like a "brother" and a "father," not just a coach. Everything he has done so far—even taking the players out to dinner last week—has been to achieve this goal.
This is an arduous task. Removing Tottenham's psychological barriers is as difficult as cleaning the Augean stables. If the situation had been slightly different, if Tottenham had won, perhaps the task would have been completed. But De Zerbi must once again inspire the players and make them believe that all is not lost. His press conference on Saturday night seemed to be the beginning of this effort.
What does Tottenham need to do to avoid relegation?
De Zerbi certainly has the right to speak. Although Tottenham's path to survival is more difficult than ever, they at least seem to have found a direction to move forward. Even with such a painful ending, this match was still Tottenham's best and most positive performance in the league this season.
They formulated a game plan and executed it rigorously. From the start to the end of the match, they gave their all. They pressed actively, made selfless contributions, won the ball in dangerous areas, and created two goals. They passed the ball directly to Dominic Solanke and built their attacks around him.
The return of Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma provided a solid defensive foundation for the team's midfield. They also allowed Harvey Simmons to receive the ball in open spaces, waiting for opportunities to threaten the opponent. There were excellent performances from players all over the field.
Perhaps none of this should come as a surprise. This is not magic, just good players regaining their form. De Zerbi has not performed any magic, but has lifted a certain curse. Tottenham have simply rediscovered themselves. Perhaps De Zerbi's efforts have begun to pay off, and the team's mindset is starting to shift.
Although this is no consolation and does not matter much, if Tottenham had maintained this level of performance throughout the season, they would probably need a telescope to see themselves finishing in 18th place. The decision-makers on the board do not deserve sympathy—this is the drawback of only finding the right head coach during the March international break.
Although it is tempting, it is meaningless to imagine what kind of football they might have played, which teams they might have defeated, and which matches they might have won if De Zerbi had had more time with these players.
Instead, we must accept the reality. Tottenham are currently in the relegation zone with five league matches remaining. There is only one thorny path to survival: winning at Molineux Stadium on Saturday. After that, they will need another victory at Villa Park, and then there will be no turning back.
Everything must start with showing the same style as on Saturday, maintaining the same commitment, unity, and fighting spirit. De Zerbi said after the match that they played "with passion." They must continue to keep possession and push forward, even if it means taking risks.
Performance alone is only a necessary condition, not a sufficient one. At the bottom of the table, football matches are full of variables. Tottenham also need some luck—injuries, refereeing decisions, deflections, and various details—and these are precisely the obstacles they have long encountered.
Despite all the changes, drama, and progress on Saturday, their final situation remains the same as it has been for months, under multiple head coaches: they desperately need a victory to boost their ranking. And time is running out.
