De Zerbi Aims To Be Brother Or Father For Spurs Amid Relegation Fears

Sunderland deepened Tottenham's Premier League trouble with a 1-0 win at the Stadium of Light, leaving Roberto De Zerbi talking about acting more like family than a traditional manager. Nordi Mukiele's second-half strike decided De Zerbi's first match in charge and kept Spurs two points from safety.

The defeat stretched Tottenham's run without a league victory to 14 matches, their longest such sequence in the Premier League era. Spurs remain one of two sides, along with Wolves, yet to win any league game after conceding first this season, underlining fragile confidence in the relegation battle.

De Zerbi felt the performance at Sunderland did not merit defeat, but accepted confidence is badly damaged. Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, De Zerbi said:

"I'm sorry because we didn't deserve to lose the game. We played a good game, maybe not enough to win, but we were unlucky in a few situations in the first half. "

The Italian stressed that emotional support may matter more than tactical work during this Premier League struggle. De Zerbi added: "I can be a big brother, father; they don't need a coach. They don't need to improve football. They can play better, and they will play better once we reach a different level of confidence. "

Tottenham's current league sequence is their second-longest winless run in any division, behind a 16-match stretch between December 1934 and April 1935. Tactically, De Zerbi was satisfied with elements of the display, pointing to work on and off the ball that had been introduced during the week before the Sunderland match.

De Zerbi highlighted effort and structure, while again returning to the subject of belief. De Zerbi said: "Absolutely, I'm sure if we are able to win a game, then everything will change. I cannot say anything to players because they gave their best in terms of attitude and spirit. We can play better for sure, and you can feel better. We have to work on that. "

The new Tottenham head coach insisted technical quality is present but masked by anxiety. De Zerbi continued: "My work is not so much on the pitch because they are good guys, and I am sorry for them. I want to give them confidence in what they need. Tactically, we played a good first half. With the ball and without the ball. We don't have confidence to play great football, but we did what we have been working on this week. The players can play better if they are feeling confident. "

Tottenham Premier League struggles and historical context

Recent appointments have not given Tottenham an immediate bounce in the Premier League. Both Igor Tudor and De Zerbi have now lost their first league games in charge, after each of the previous nine Spurs managers, including caretakers, had avoided defeat on Premier League debut, collecting six wins and three draws between them.

Falling behind continues to be a major problem for Tottenham in this Premier League campaign. Spurs have conceded first in 23 matches, losing 16 and drawing seven. They remain alongside Wolves as the only teams yet to recover from a deficit to win, a pattern that has dragged them into relegation danger.

Defeat at Sunderland also extended a long positive sequence for the hosts against Tottenham in this Premier League season. Before this match, Sunderland had gone winless in 15 league meetings with Spurs since April 2010, but tight defending and efficient counter-attacks helped end that run in front of a home crowd.

At the Stadium of Light, Sunderland again showed the defensive solidity that has supported their Premier League push. They collected a sixth home clean sheet of the campaign, with only Arsenal, on eight, and Manchester City, on seven, recording more shut-outs on their own grounds, while Sunderland's 14 home goals conceded are bettered only by those two clubs, who have each allowed 11.

Both of Mukiele's Premier League goals have now arrived at the Stadium of Light, and both have been decisive winners. The first came against Wolves in October 2025, and the second punished Tottenham, although there was an element of fortune in the way the shot beat the goalkeeper.

Mukiele felt the goal rewarded positive decision-making rather than luck during Sunderland's Premier League meeting with Tottenham. Mukiele told Sky Sports: "In football, you have to take a chance, and that's what I did. I took the shot, and it went in, so I am really happy for the performance of the team. "

Mukiele also spoke about momentum and mindset as Sunderland turned around a recent slump following three straight defeats. "The energy is very important after we lost three games in a row. We were at home, it was our tempo and our rules. We started very strong, and the season is very long. We deserve where we are today because we work hard. Now is a bonus, and now we have six games to show where we are. We have to stay humble. "

Defeat at the Stadium of Light. pic.twitter.com/8NEQogM0rWTottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 12, 2026

Tottenham Premier League setback and Sunderland European push

Back-to-back victories have taken Sunderland into a crowded race for European qualification, while deepening Tottenham's Premier League worries. Head coach Regis Le Bris, however, preferred not to discuss targets beyond the immediate aim of consistency, even as conversations inside the dressing room move towards possible continental football.

Le Bris said light-heartedly that others at Sunderland are more willing to mention Europe than the coach. "Not me directly [talking about Europe], but I know the players are talking behind me!" Le Bris joked. "We want to be a top-10 team, and we want to achieve that consistency. We still have a lot to do, and we want to enjoy this period. "

The result leaves Tottenham still searching for a first win under De Zerbi and a way out of Premier League relegation danger, while Sunderland build confidence for the final six fixtures. Spurs must quickly convert effort into points, whereas Sunderland look to maintain defensive strength and measured ambition during the run-in.