By OkayGoal 
Roberto De Zerbi is adamant that Tottenham Hotspur can still turn their season around and avoid relegation from the Premier League if they can manage to win a game.
Spurs fell to their 16th defeat of the season on Sunday, losing 1-0 at Sunderland after Nordi Mukiele’s shot took a wild deflection off Micky van de Ven and landed in the net.
It continues a wretched run of form over three managers for Spurs, who are yet to win a league game in 2026. Their 14-game winless streak is the third-longest to start a calendar year in the Premier League.
De Zerbi: One win can change everything for Tottenham Hotspur
“I think we played a good game, not enough to win but we didn’t deserve to lose,” De Zerbi told Sky Sports.
“We have to accept and move on. We played a good game. We have enough quality to come out from this difficult moment. I’m sorry for the result, I’m sorry for the [Cristian] Romero injury and I hope for us and for him that it is not important.
“We had three or four clear chances to score. We can be better especially to find the play between the lines. We made two or three mistakes in the last 15 metres and we have to move on into the next game. I spoke with the players five minutes ago and I said that I understand it has been a very tough season. It is a tough moment for everyone and we have to react with the right spirit. The quality of the players are amazing.”
Tottenham’s misery is compounded by the fact that their nearest relegation rivals both earned points this weekend. West Ham United plunged Spurs into the dropzone with a 4-0 win over Wolves, while Nottingham Forest drew with Aston Villa.
“It is what we have to do,” De Zerbi said of their survival bid. “We can just work. I am an honest man and I am telling you what I think. My opinion is that we have big players who are in a bad moment in terms of results and the parts of the season.
“We have to work on one win because with one win we can change everything this season. I have 24 hours per day and it is not a problem of time. We created chances in the first half, the same we have done in the week. The players of the quality are great but we have to believe more in ourselves and the crucial part is to win one game.
“We can play much better than today but after five or six training games it is difficult. All together we have to stay focused to win one game.”
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