Tottenham's Survival and De Zerbi's Rebuilding Plans

Tottenham stayed in the Premier League by the narrowest of margins. They did it with a 1-0 win over Everton on the final day, a result that kept them two points clear of 18th-placed West Ham and spared the club a first relegation in the Premier League era.

Relief poured around the stadium at full-time. It felt more like an exhale than a celebration.

Joao Palhinha’s goal, struck just before half-time, carried a weight far beyond the scoreline. One clean finish, three priceless points, and the confirmation that Tottenham’s name will remain on next season’s top-flight fixture list. It was enough. Barely.

For Roberto De Zerbi, it was nowhere near enough.

Survival – and a savage verdict

As the players left the pitch with their status intact, their manager was already looking past the escape. De Zerbi did not sugarcoat what he had seen over a season spent staring down the trapdoor.

“From tonight, we have to start to organise and to build a new team,” he told reporters, his assessment as sharp as it was unforgiving.

He spelled it out. In his view, the current squad is not close to the standard Tottenham should demand. He spoke of “10, 11, 12 players” he considers good enough to stay – not just as footballers, but as people – and implied that more than half the dressing room is expendable.

The message was brutal, but clear: this group survived. It did not convince.

A vow to end the suffering

Tottenham spent the second half of the campaign locked in a desperate fight at the bottom. The club that once measured itself against title challengers ended up counting points against the drop.

De Zerbi has no intention of reliving it.

“First level of players because we suffered too much,” he said. “I suffered a lot but I think the fans, the club, the board, the players, they suffered too much. We are Tottenham and we can't suffer like this until the last second of the last game to stay up. And I will be stronger. I will be stronger.”

The repetition felt deliberate. A promise as much to himself as to the fanbase. He wants a squad that reflects the badge, not the league position they have just escaped.

Demanding alignment at the top

De Zerbi is not pretending he can rebuild the club on his own. He knows this summer will be defined as much in meeting rooms as on the training pitch.

He called for alignment with the hierarchy – sporting director, scouting department, CEO – and made it clear that the coming window must deliver the calibre of signing he has in mind when he talks about “first level” players.

“I don't want to decide alone because football is a group - sporting director, scouting, CEO - but my target now is finished to stay up,” he said. “My target is to start the pre-season with the team I have in my dream.”

That is the line that lingers. Survival was the minimum. The real judgement on this season, and the next, will come when Tottenham walk out for pre-season: are they still a team clinging on, or one finally built to look upwards again?