Roberto De Zerbi says Tottenham’s match against Everton more important than European final 

It all comes down to this. Tottenham have been flirting with fire all season, and they still might get burned. After spoiling a chance to secure salvation on Tuesday night, Spurs will head into their final match of the season knowing a loss could cost them a spot in next year’s Premier League. Roberto De Zerbi laid out the importance of the Everton match after the loss at Stamford Bridge.

Fighting for pride and Premier

All they needed was a point. A draw would have been enough to guarantee them top flight soccer next year, but Spurs weren’t able to earn themselves salvation and now it will come down to the final game of the year. “Sunday is the final for Tottenham, not in Bilbao against Man United [last season], but this is the most important game,” the Italian said.

Tottenham are 12 months removed from their Europa League title over Manchester United, but now they are preparing a match that could be far more devastating if they don’t come up with a favorable result. “We play for something more important than the trophy - the pride, the history of the club, the dignity are more important than the trophy. The trophy you can win, but the most important thing is to keep the dignity, to keep the pride,” said De Zerbi.

It was Ange Postecoglou who took Tottenham to the European final, but a subpar league campaign cost him his job. Since then Thomas Frank, Igor Tudor and Roberto De Zerbi have patrolled the touchline at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. De Zerbi was sought after and seen as the savior that would keep Spurs from relegation, but draw to Leeds and a loss at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday means they have 90 more minutes to save themselves from a disastrous relegation.

Win, draw, or hope for help from Leeds

De Zerbi agreed to be the new manager in North London after the club parted ways with Igor Tudor just 44 days into his interim spell. De Zerbi has been there for slightly longer, but the reality of relegation remains just as real. Spurs lost the first match under the Italian manager, but since then have won two, drawn two and lost one. They head into the final match of the season needing at least a point against Everton. West Ham are currently in 18th, two points back of Spurs, but if the two sides end up tied on points, the tie breaker would favor Tottenham because of their -10 goal difference as opposed to West Ham’s -22 goal difference.

De Zerbi arrived intent on one thing. They let the first chance at survival slip, but Sunday’s home match is quite literally do or die. “I have lived the last 45 days just for one thing. Every one of the players, their focus is on the target [of survival] - they are working harder during the week and every one of us wants to achieve that goal.”

All of the matches on Sunday will be played at the same time. Tottenham will be playing with their Premier League lives on the line in front of the home fans that have been justifiably critical of the club all season long. A win or draw would go a long way in mending relationships, but a loss and a West Ham win over Leeds could send Spurs spiraling into the second division.

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