Tottenham Hotspur must play with ‘blood, character, and spirit’: Roberto de Zerbi

LONDON – Roberto de Zerbi has urged his Tottenham Hotspur team to play with “blood, character and spirit” as they battle to avoid a first relegation in 49 years on May 24.

A draw with Everton on the final day of the English Premier League season will all but certainly save Spurs as 18th-placed West Ham United, who are two points behind, have a significantly inferior goal difference.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s Hammers host Leeds United at the London Stadium on the same day, with all 10 games kicking off at 4pm British time.

“We have to play with blood, with character, with spirit because it’s a final,” de Zerbi said at his pre-match press conference on May 22.

“They (the Spurs team under Ange Postecoglou) played a great final last season (in the Europa League) and they won a trophy,” he added.

“Maybe there was a bonus. (On May 24) there is not a trophy, there is not a bonus.

“There is something more important than the trophy and the bonus. There is the future of the club, there is the history of the club, there is the pride of the players, there is the pride of the families of the players.

“There is the dignity of every one of us.”

There are some off-pitch issues, however, which may affect the team.

Injured captain Cristian Romero has flown back to Argentina to watch his boyhood club Belgrano take on River Plate in a title decider, sparking anger among Spurs fans.

De Zerbi, appointed in late March to save Tottenham after a disastrous season, said he could “100 per cent” understand the reaction of supporters but he would not be distracted by criticism of Romero.

“The decision was with the medical staff, and I think he can’t change nothing even if Romero tomorrow is in the stadium or not,” he added.

“And finally, I have no time to lose energy thinking about other things. We have to be focused just on the game, and I think we have the players good enough to achieve our target.”

Quizzed further on whether Romero had played his last game for Spurs, de Zerbi said: “I don’t know.

“I think Cristian is a top player and with me he was a top guy. When I say top guy it’s because I’m sure what I’m saying. For the future, I don’t know.”

Spurs will be boosted by the return of forward Dominic Solanke, after he missed nearly a month with a hamstring injury.

“Solanke is available. We have to decide if he starts or not,” de Zerbi said.

Djed Spence, who suffered a broken jaw during the midweek loss to Chelsea, will also be available.

“The pressure is good. It depends if you are able to think, to stay strong, stay positive... this type of game you can become better as a coach, a player and a man,” the Spurs boss added of the vital clash against Everton.

“You can become better by going through the tough moments.”

West Ham manager Nuno, meanwhile, said his team’s game against Leeds would be the biggest of his 14-year managerial career as the club target victory.

“We represent a huge club, a massive club, with an enormous fan base that we have to respect and try to make them proud of us,” he said.

“They’ll be there from the first minute, I can assure you. Then it’s up to us to deliver, so the support continues.” REUTERS, AFP