De Zerbi determined to banish 'negative thoughts' as Spurs battle for survival

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tottenham/UDg08Ohm/"]Spurs[/a] won ‌their first league game since December at bottom side [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/wolves/j3Azpf5d/"]Wolverhampton Wanderers[/a] last weekend, but faced a ‌major setback when attacking midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/simons-xavi/noo0L9zk/"]Xavi Simons[/a] suffered a cruciate ligament ‌rupture, ruling him out for the season.[/p][p]De Zerbi's men visit fifth-placed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/aston-villa/W00wmLO0/"]Aston Villa[/a] ‌on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/aston-villa-W00wmLO0/tottenham-UDg08Ohm/?mid=jFEYCXop"]Sunday[/a], and the coach, who took charge a month ago, wants ‌to be rid of the negativity surrounding the team's performances.[/p][p][b]"Listen, I want to be clear one time. The most important challenge now is to silence the voice inside of ‌us, inside of the players, inside the staff, ⁠the fans,"[/b] he told reporters on ‌Friday.[/p][embed guid="4956351b-a8cd-4da5-9aae-e94d1a247a24" url="https://x.com/SpursOfficial/status/2049896693643022357" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"This voice produces negative thoughts and the voice says 'we are unlucky, we have too ​many injuries. We lost Xavi Simons and he was in the last two games one of the most important players for ​us.[/b][/p][p][b]"'Our medical staff is not good enough, the pitch of the stadium is not good... winning two or three games in a row is impossible ⁠because we hadn't won ​a game in 2026'. I think it's all negative things and it's rubbish."[/b][/p][p]De Zerbi said the focus should be on the quality of the Spurs players, who have picked up four points from the last two matches.[/p][p][b]"We go to ‌play against one of the best teams... but if Tottenham win at Villa Park it's not a miracle. Maybe we lose but we have the quality to win this game. It’s not a miracle. We have to be positive,"[/b] he said.[/p][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/maddison-james/YwP0q0m8/"]Maddison[/a] can play a role[/h2][p]De Zerbi said midfielder James Maddison, who has returned to the bench but is yet to play after suffering a cruciate ligament injury in August, can play a role in the last few games of the campaign.[/p][p][b]"I'd like to ‌play with him because he is a special player but we have ​to consider physical condition, a lot of things, but I think ‌he can be important in the next three games,"[/b] the manager added.[/p][embed guid="1e078a35-0bf1-4d01-841e-89a08c5775df" url="https://x.com/SpursOfficial/status/2050108021557125303" social-type="twitter" /][p]The Italian promised that Spurs, who finished 17th last season, will do everything they can in the summer transfer market to avoid another struggle.[/p][p][b]"In summer we can do everything. Everything. We have a lot of ⁠time to spend speaking about football, ⁠about the transfer market, about ‌everything we can improve. We will,"[/b] he said.[/p]