De Zerbi rallies Spurs for crucial match against Everton

Roberto De Zerbi has called on Tottenham, who are fighting relegation, to play with “blood and spirit” in their important match against Everton on Sunday.

Tottenham faces the risk of being relegated to the Championship if they lose to Everton at home and West Ham wins against Leeds.

De Zerbi's team is currently in fourth from the bottom, just two points ahead of West Ham as they head into the last game of the season.

A draw might still keep Tottenham safe from relegation for the first time since the 1977-78 season, thanks to their much better goal difference compared to West Ham.

In a season full of problems for Tottenham, their captain Cristian Romero has angered fans by choosing to fly to Argentina for rehab instead of staying with the team on this crucial day.

But De Zerbi made it clear that Romero's choice and the team's injuries should not be excuses for his players.

“I don’t want to answer about Romero, about (Dejan) Kulusevski. They can’t play, they don’t play and they are not here. My focus is on Djed Spence, on (Randal) Kolo Muani, on Richarlison,” he said.

“We have to play and to play with blood, with character and with spirit because it’s a final. They played a great final last season and they won a trophy.

“Maybe there was a bonus, no? After tomorrow, there is not a trophy, there is not a bonus, there is something more important than a trophy and a bonus, there is the future of the club.

“There is the history of the club, there is the pride of the players, there is the pride of the family of the players, there is the dignity of every one of us, and for that, I can’t lose energy thinking about the next season.”