Roberto De Zerbi praised a “very good” Tottenham performance as back-to-back wins lifted his side out of the Premier League relegation zone following a richly deserved 2-1 win at Aston Villa.
Conor Gallagher scored his first goal for the club in the 12th minute, firing in from range, before Richarlison headed a second on 25 minutes to put Spurs firmly in control.
Emiliano Buendia pulled one back with a deep stoppage-time header but it was too little, too late for a Villa side who had made seven changes following Thursday’s Europa League semi-final first leg.
The result moved Spurs to 17th in the table, one point above the bottom three with three games remaining. West Ham’s defeat to Brentford on Saturday left the door open, and Spurs walked through it.
De Zerbi was effusive in his post-match assessment but immediately urged his players not to let the mood soften.
“We played against Aston Villa, they are a very good team. A lot of very good players, a great manager but we played very well for 60 minutes without the ball and with the ball. We suffered with Watkins and Buendia and conceded a goal. That was the only bad thing we did on the pitch. I’m pleased with this performance from my players. I know how much they have suffered this season.”
‘Gallagher plays with 12 players’
The Italian singled out Gallagher, who has reinvented himself as the heartbeat of De Zerbi’s midfield since joining from Chelsea last summer, for special mention.
“Gallagher, when he plays well, we play with 12 players. He is an amazing player. Kolo Muani and Mathys Tel played an amazing game. The two centre-backs with and without the ball, I am really pleased.”
He also reflected warmly on the high press that suffocated Villa for the opening hour.
“The high pressure is mentality and then in possession. We played very well when we had to attack the space or to shoot. I love playing football. My job is to help them and show what they are capable of.”
‘These memories have to stay in our heads’
Speaking to the BBC, De Zerbi was characteristically blunt about what happens next, refusing to let two wins in a week change the mentality inside the dressing room.
“Especially in the first half, we could score more goals than two. We didn’t concede any chance to score and played very well. The right spirit and behaviour on the pitch. I’m pleased with the performances. I knew my players were very good before this game. We have to not forget the situation before Wolverhampton. The season is not finished yet and we cannot be happy just for these two wins. We have to keep working with the same mentality.
“And now I don’t want to hear the positive voice. We have to stay focused for the next game. I think my biggest job is to help the players to show their qualities. Their level is not to fight for relegation but we have to accept and be stronger than the people who speak too much.”
On climbing out of the bottom three, De Zerbi’s response was a single word: “Nothing.”
“Because the season is not finished yet. We have to play another three games starting on Monday night with Leeds, they are playing very well. We can’t forget what the situation was before Wolves. It was a very sad situation and these memories have to stay in our heads.
“Just one time we have played at home and the atmosphere was amazing in the stadium. I think it was a mental problem and these two wins, I hope we can play with more confidence and better mentality.”
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