Spurs narrowly avoided relegation with a win against Everton on the final matchday, but this was far from a cause for celebration.
Micky van de Ven, speaking to the BBC after the 1-0 victory that secured their safety against Everton, was far from proud of the team’s performance. «It’s unacceptable that we had to fight for survival in the final game,» he stated. «This club has some incredible players. It was embarrassing that it came down to the last matchday,» he expressed his dissatisfaction with the past months.
Despite his criticism, the defender admitted a degree of relief at averting disaster. «But at least we managed it. That’s the most important thing,» the former Wolfsburg player concluded, able to breathe a little easier.
His coach, Roberto De Zerbi, who took over Spurs in the spring, echoed these sentiments: «The players have suffered far too much. We are Tottenham, and it cannot be that we have to fight like this until the last game and the last second.»
Relegation Battle Again Next Season? De Zerbi Rules Nothing Out
Looking ahead to the new season, the new coach hopes to spare the loyal supporters another dramatic struggle: «I’m happy for them, and next season the goal must definitely be to make them happier again.»
However, the 46-year-old was unwilling to make grand promises about avoiding another relegation scare: «Listen, that’s hard to promise because the Premier League is a very competitive league.»
For the Italian, who secured eleven points from the last six games, the immediate task is to dissect the horrifying season. «We have to learn from the mistakes we made this season,» he began his closing remarks. «Now we are happy about staying up. But foolish people forget the past. Wise people, however, cannot forget the past. We have to learn, get better, and start working as a team from today. We have no time for a holiday.»
«A New Low»: Spurs Finish 17th for Second Consecutive Year
In the final Premier League standings, Spurs finished in 17th place with 41 points and a goal difference of -9. West Ham United finished just behind in 18th with 39 points (-19), narrowly avoiding the drop.
Legend and pundit Gary Neville urged the club to face reality and not be blinded by last year’s title win: «It was great for the fans to celebrate a title. But they have been underperforming and falling short of expectations for a long time. The last two years represent a new dimension of disappointment and a new low.»
Even last year, despite their international success, Spurs only managed to finish in 17th place in the domestic league. In the 2023/2024 season, Tottenham had finished fifth. Notably, Spurs have spent €726 million on new players in the past three years, with €266 million invested last summer alone.
Premier League Relegation Battle Standings
| Position | Team | Goal Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Nottingham Forest | -3 | 44 |
| 17 | Tottenham Hotspur | -9 | 41 |
| 18* | West Ham United | -19 | 39 |
| 19* | Burnley FC | -37 | 22 |
| 20* | Wolverhampton Wanderers | -41 | 20 |
*Relegated