Roberto De Zerbi reveals unusual intervention he made to help Spurs avoid relegation

Roberto De Zerbi has admitted that he was forced to take things into his own hands to ensure Spurs' Premier League survival last season.

After what had been a dismal season so far, Tottenham Hotspur appointed Roberto De Zerbi as their permanent head coach on a five-year contract in March.

Against all odds, the former Brighton boss kept Spurs in the Premier League, avoiding the drop by just two points on the final day of the 2025/26 season.

In the space of only a few months, De Zerbi appears to have transformed the London club from a former Premier League giant battling relegation back to a side that many are tipping to qualify for the Champions League.

But he didn't exactly do this by following the typical methods, as he's explained how he ensured that Spurs would be a Premier League side next season.

“I don’t love rules,” he told The Times.

“I read a book where it was written that creative people don’t follow any rules. I like creative players. I don’t want to set any rules. Just a couple, two or three at most. I am not a policeman, not even with my children. Freedom, totally freedom.

"One is one. You are like me, or like a kitman, [we are] the same. But every day we have to push, every day we have to deserve to stay here or to play football or to earn the money we are earning, otherwise it’s not normal. We have to respect the luck we have had in our life.”

When he arrived in March, things weren't exactly positive at Spurs, with the manager admitting that some people were left 'crying, lying down on the floor' after the damaging 1-0 loss to Sunderland in De Zerbi's first match as manager.

This is what led the manager to make a bold choice which he believes transformed their season, letting the team get drunk.

“One big dinner in Bacchanalia in Mayfair, with alcohol,” he revealed when asked he he dealt with the loss.

“Alcohol is a good medicine, if you enjoy it normally and seriously and not as stupid people. I believe in staying together. Then, I transferred every day my opinion about them.

"I think they considered themselves in that moment to be worse than people thought. There was the possibility to stay up and to win. The potential of the team was very high.”

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Roberto De Zerbi reveals Spurs' target for Premier League season

As demonstrated by Manchester United last season, Spurs have the good chance to secure a European spot thanks to the fact that they will be playing just one game a week.

Add to this the fact that the club have secured several blockbuster signings this season, such as former Newcastle United star Sandro Tonali, and spirits are high at Spurs.

But De Zerbi believes this is exactly what should be the case at Spurs, and such signings will help him reach his goal of ending his journey with a major trophy.

He said: “Words … they are not clear, but the facts are clear on the table. Now we have to bring top players to become competitive, I don’t know if to win, but for sure to be better than the last two seasons’ results in the Premier League.

“Then, I consider the trophy the end of the journey. I can’t manage the end of the journey, I can manage the journey from the beginning until the end. And now is not the moment to think of the trophy. T

"he trophy arrives if you, in this journey, have worked well, been your best version, and the players have been able to play in the best way they can.”

Spurs begin their 2026/27 Premier League campaign with an away trip to face London rivals Brentford.