Roberto De Zerbi has launched a ruthless assessment of Tottenham's squad following a dramatic final-day escape from Premier League relegation. The Italian manager confirmed that fewer than half his current roster meets the standard required at a club of Spurs' calibre, signalling a major summer overhaul ahead.
Tottenham secured survival with a 1-0 victory over Everton, with Joao Palhinha scoring before half-time to finish two points clear of the drop zone. The result preserved the club's unbroken top-flight status, but De Zerbi showed little appetite for celebration, instead focusing immediately on reconstruction.
Brutal Squad Evaluation
Speaking after the Everton win, De Zerbi was unsparing in his critique. "We have 10, 11, 12 players good enough to stay. Good enough like players. Especially like people," he told reporters. "And then we have to complete the squad with first level of players." The statement effectively condemned the majority of the dressing room as inadequate for top-flight football.
The defensive struggles and inconsistency that haunted Tottenham throughout the season have left their mark on the manager. De Zerbi emphasized the psychological toll the relegation battle inflicted: "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."
Recruitment Priorities for Summer
De Zerbi has set a clear mandate for the transfer window. Rather than overhaul the squad in isolation, he stressed the need for collaboration with the sporting director, scouting department, and chief executive. "My target now is finished to stay up," he said. "My target is to start pre-season with the team I have in my dream."
This rebuilding project represents a significant shift from where Tottenham found itself just weeks earlier. The club must now identify and recruit first-team quality reinforcements across multiple positions to mount a genuine Premier League challenge next season, rather than simply fighting for survival.
