Tottenham's season appeared finished when Roberto De Zerbi arrived with just seven games to save them from relegation. The club had won zero Premier League matches in 2026 and sat deep in the bottom three. Now Spurs are out of the relegation zone with three wins from four games under the Italian—only a last-minute Brighton equaliser denied him a perfect start.

The tactical overhaul has been striking. De Zerbi has implemented his high-pressing system, winning the ball back in the final third 5.3 times per game—the best record of any manager in the division this season. Defensively, Spurs have conceded just 0.79 expected goals per match under him, almost halving the 1.52 they were shipping before his arrival.

Midfield changes proved crucial. After being "badly burned" using young players Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall against Sunderland, De Zerbi switched to more industrious options, pairing Conor Gallagher with Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha. Gallagher has thrived, scoring at Villa Park where De Zerbi said his team played "with 12 men" thanks to his performance. Survival is now back in Tottenham's own hands.