Spurs fell to a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland in the Italian coach's first game in charge on Sunday (12.04.26) to remain in the drop zone and De Zerbi believes that the prospect of a first relegation since 1977 is hindering his team.

Asked if fear is behind the poor performances, the manager said: "I think so. If you ask me, I am 46 years old. I have much [more] experience than the players and I am positive absolutely because I know them as guys and players and for that I am positive, not because we are Tottenham or because I have to do positive [things].

"They have the quality to win one game and the target now, the closest target is to win one game because if we win a game, we can see everything in a different way.

"You know me as a coach but one very important part for my style of coaching is the mental part, to transfer the confidence of the players, to give what they need in terms of mentality and confidence.

"For that, we could play better because during the week they play better because their heads are clean. During the game, it is different for sure. My work to help them, to show them what they do during the week during the game."

Spurs are two points from safety with just six games remaining but De Zerbi is confident that his team can avoid the drop.

He said: "We are inside a difficult moment. My job is not now to change the style of play. We did two or three things with the ball, without the ball, but the crucial part is our mentality, to be positive. We have the quality to win a game (and) when we win a game, we change everything."