De Zerbi credits candid meeting as Tottenham show signs of recovery

Tottenham climbed to 12th in the Premier League after beating Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, offering fresh evidence that their difficult start could be giving way to a recovery. Manager Roberto de Zerbi linked the improvement to a candid squad meeting before their recent draw at Manchester United, BBC Sport reported.

The result followed victory over Coventry and left Spurs unbeaten in three league matches. Their position at the end of Saturday’s action was their highest since 2 January, a modest milestone but a meaningful change in direction for a team struggling to establish momentum.

According to BBC Sport’s account, De Zerbi said the meeting had encouraged players to speak openly and helped improve relationships within the group. He described a change in collective spirit, particularly among younger players, rather than presenting the turnaround simply as a tactical adjustment.

Chelsea nevertheless contributed heavily to their own defeat. Goalkeeper Mike Penders punched a corner into his own net, Cole Palmer was dismissed after receiving a second yellow card, and Mathys Tel added Tottenham’s second with a low finish after carrying the ball forward.

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day afterwards, De Zerbi said Tottenham’s preparation and willingness to compete had underpinned the performance. He emphasised winning duels, reacting to second balls and matching technical quality with the physical demands of the contest, describing the display as his best with Spurs.

James Maddison’s role illustrated the balance De Zerbi was seeking. The manager said he had used two midfielders while giving Maddison freedom to find useful positions, trusting the playmaker’s understanding of the game rather than restricting him to a fixed area. Conor Gallagher subsequently offered different qualities after replacing him.

Maddison’s withdrawal provided the principal concern on an otherwise encouraging evening. De Zerbi said the midfielder had played well and expressed hope that the problem was not serious, but added that further assessment was needed. His availability remains an unresolved issue rather than a confirmed lengthy absence.

The result also answered a challenge De Zerbi had set before the derby. In comments reported by AFP ahead of the match, he urged Tottenham to treat their poor record at Stamford Bridge as motivation rather than an additional burden. He argued that the current squad should focus on its own ability instead of carrying responsibility for previous defeats.

In his post-match press conference, reported by football.london correspondent Alasdair Gold, De Zerbi praised the individual and collective performances but said Tottenham could have created more chances from their control. That distinction matters: an improved result and greater composure do not yet amount to a completed rebuild.

The next test is whether Spurs can sustain those standards beyond a morale-boosting derby victory. De Zerbi cautioned that two consecutive wins had not delivered any major achievement and stressed the need for improvement from week to week. For now, Tottenham have a stronger platform, with Maddison’s fitness and continued consistency central to what follows.