Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi says his players are “suffering” from the psychological weight of the club’s current position in the Premier League relegation zone.
Speaking after a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland in his first game in charge, the Italian admitted that the “fear of relegation” is a genuine factor affecting his squad’s performance on the pitch.
Spurs struggled to find a breakthrough at the Stadium of Light, and De Zerbi believes the pressure of the situation is preventing the players from expressing their true quality.
“The players of Tottenham are all good guys and they are suffering for this moment,” De Zerbi said. “They are not happy to see Tottenham at the bottom of the table, for sure.
“They are human and they are suffering maybe too much. We have to find the energy and the right spirit to be positive. During the week they play better because they are clean with the head, but during the game it is different.”
The former Brighton boss insisted that his primary task is now a psychological one rather than a tactical overhaul.
“My work is to help them to show what they can do during the week. One very important part for me, for my style of coach, is the mental part—to transfer the confidence,” he added.
“They have the quality enough to win a game. The target now, the closest target, is to win one game because if we win a game we can see everything in a different way.”
And De Zerbi admitted he faces an anxious wait over the fitness of Cristian Romero after the defender was forced off.