De Zerbi looks to brighter days as relieved Spurs survive
Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi. Pic: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire.
The tension was almost too much as this do-or-die battle crept into its 100th minute, with Spurs clinging on for the win that would keep them in the Premier League.
Suddenly Everton substitute Tyrique George cut in from the left, arrowed in a shot to the top far corner only for Antonin Kinsky, Tottenham's young keeper, to tip the ball away.
That save, and Joao Palhinha's decisive goal in the 43rd minute, meant Spurs survived the ignominy of relegation just over a year after that famous night in Bilbao when they won the Europa League.
Fans and players celebrated loudly and long after the final whistle, and the centre of attention was Roberto Di Zerbi, the Italian appointed just a few weeks ago to salvage a rotten season. Not only did he oversee two away wins to lift Spurs out of the relegation zone, he oversaw this win, their first at home since December, in what he described before kick-off as 'more than a cup final'.
His record from seven games was three wins, two draws and two defeats, meaning Spurs managed salvation on the final day of the season, with West Ham, who also won their final game, going down instead.
Afterwards De Zerbi was in playful mood, looking for a particular reporter who had been sceptical about the Italian's chances of keeping Spurs up. “Bring him here,” he told stewards.
“It's OK, I want to hug him, not fight him. I don't have the energy for that. I just want the season over, and drink some red wine.”
But he was more serious when he said: “We are Tottenham and we can't suffer like this until the last second of the last game to stay up.
“We deserved this win, we played very well and I'm proud. Now starting from tonight we have to start to organise and to build a new team.
“I think we have now to change many players. We have 10, 11, 12 players good enough to stay. Good enough as players and as people. And then we have to complete the squad with the first (top) level of players.”
Understandably, given the high stakes, there was an air of tension among home supporters, but they got fully behind their team and Tottenham started well. Pedro Porro whipped in a free-kick that was headed over his own goal by James Tarkowski, and then the Spaniard had a shot blocked. Conor Gallagher and Kevin Danso tried their luck with shots that were blocked and wide, Palhinha volleyed high over the bar from another free-kick and Jordan Pickford did well to flick away a cross from Djed Spence with Richarlison lurking.
Palhinha was excellent at breaking up play too, and after winning the ball in his own half, surged forward before having a shot deflected away for a corner.
Everton's best chance of the half cae when James Tarkowski headed wide from a free-kick, but apart from a couple of dangerous runs from Iliman Ndiaye, the Tottenham defence had little to worry about before half-time.
Mathys Tel, who was giving Everton's makeshift right-back Jake O'Brien a hard time, and when his shot was deflected in the 43rd minute, swung in a corner from the left. Palhinha was unmarked at the back for a thumping header that hit the far post, but the Portuguese midfielder acted quickly to volley the ball back towards goal. Although Thierno Barry made a goal-line clearance, referee Michael Oliver awarded the goal, signalling that his wristwatch had indicated the ball had crossed the line.
Home supporters erupted in joy, the players celebrated wildly, and De Zerbi thumped a spare ball high into the sky in delight.
With West Ham still level with Leeds at this point, it gave Spurs a four-point cushion, but nerves were still jangling when news filtered through just after the hour mark that the Hammer had scored to reduce the gap to two points.
Everton raised their game considerably in the second-half, and Spurs dropped deeper. Both managers made changes, David Moyes going in search of a goal that might help his former side, De Zerbi looking to shore up Tottenham's fragile lead.
When the assistant's board came up showing nine minutes of stoppage time, there were audible groans of despair from home supporters. Everton suddenly had chances, Michael Keane and Beto put headers over the bar, before fellow substitute Tyrique George swung in a their first shot on target, which Kinski tipped away brilliantly. Seconds later it was all over, and the celebrations could begin in earnest.
Just over a year on from their Europa League win in Bilbao, Spurs fans finally had something to celebrate.
Now the hard work begins to ensure they do not finish like this again.
: 4-2-3-1 Kinsky 8; Porro 7, Danso 7, Van de Ven 8, Udogie 7 (Dragusin 89); Bentancur 7 (Gray 82), Palhinnha 9; Spence 7, Gallagher 8 (Maddison 82), Tel 7 (Sarr 73); Richarlison 5 (Kolo-Muani 73).
: 4-4-2 Pickford 6; O'Brien 5 (Armstrong 62), Tarkowski 6, Keane 6, Mykolenko 6; Rohl 5 (George 62), Iroegbunam 5 (Coleman 84) Deswbury-Hall 6 (Alcaraz 84), Garner 6; Barry 4 (Beto 84), Ndiaye 7.
: Michael Oliver 8/10
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