Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi says “mentality” is the most important part as his side’s draw with Brighton on Saturday left them in the Premier League bottom three, a point adrift of 17th-placed West Ham.
Georginio Rutter netted a stoppage-time equaliser to condemn Spurs to a 15th successive game without a win – the club’s longest winless run in more than 90 years.
Pedro Porro had earlier given the hosts the lead at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before Kaoru Mitoma levelled with a fine finish on the stroke of half time.
With a quarter of an hour left of the match to play, Xavi Simons thought he’d done enough to give Spurs all three points when his sublime strike hit the inside of the post before nestling into the back of the net.
But Rutter had the final say, lashing home an effort after Kevin Danso had failed to clear.
‘I want to help them’
After the match, De Zerbi revealed what he told his players, saying: “I said to be strong, to follow me again, and again because I want to help them.
“I want to help them change the mentality because the mentality in this moment of football is the most important part.”
The Italian urged his players to remain “focused” and said it was “too easy to think negative” given Spurs’ current predicament.
He added: “I am positive, not because I’m coach of Tottenham, because I know my players, I know their qualities. I know my players like people, like human beings, and I believe in them.”
Next up for Spurs is a trip to bottom side Wolves in what is a vital game for De Zerbi’s men.
