Big motivation if people want Spurs down - De Zerbi

Roberto de Zerbi previously managed Brighton in the Premier League Tottenham boss Roberto de Zerbi says knowing rival fans are willing the club to be relegated from the Premier League is a "big motivation" to stay up. Spurs are two points above West Ham , who occupy the final relegation place, and have a vastly better goal difference (-9) than their London rivals (-22) having played a game fewer. That means a point from either of their last two fixtures - at Chelsea on Tuesday or against Everton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday - will safeguard their top-flight status bar a set of freak results.

Chelsea supporters will be keen to pile misery on to Spurs when the sides meet at Stamford Bridge. But De Zerbi said his players have to "enjoy this pressure", calling it a "good thing" for them to have. "We have to find new motivation from this pressure.

If everyone wants Tottenham relegated, it's a big motivation for me and I hope for my players as well," head coach De Zerbi told a news conference. "We have to accept that football is nice because of the rivalry. It's good to imagine ourselves celebrating the win in their stadium.

It's the reason football is like this, no? " The Italian insists the external pressure should serve as fuel rather than a distraction for his squad. De Zerbi said: "It's a motivation, it's a challenge.