Sports Illustrated

Roberto De Zerbi’s Tottenham Hotspur failed to pull themselves clear of West Ham United in the Premier League relegation scrap on Monday night, having directly benefited from perhaps the biggest VAR call in the competition’s history the day before. The Italian backs that decision.

West Ham thought they had snatched a late point against Premier League leaders Arsenal, thus denting the Gunners’ title hopes, when Callum Wilson thumped home after a set-piece melee.

However, Wilson’s strike was ruled out following a lengthy VAR review, as David Raya was deemed to have been fouled by West Ham’s Pablo from the initial corner. The significance of the decision drew widespread debate, with plenty falling on either side of the referendum.

While De Zerbi had no issue with the reversal of Chris Kavanagh’s on-field call, he did suggest that Jarred Gillett’s “frenetic” officiating on Monday night may have been influenced by the drama.

VAR Overturn “200% Correct“

De Zerbi was the most agitated he’s been on the touchline since taking the Tottenham job, as his team toiled against a physical Leeds team and failed to make the most of a huge opportunity.

The 1–1 draw leaves them two points clear of the Hammers with two games remaining, and their relegation rivals can at least temporarily move to a position of safety by beating Newcastle United at St. James’ Park on Saturday before Spurs next play on Tuesday.

De Zerbi admitted his team didn’t play well, but he also wasn’t impressed by Gillett’s officiating.

“The first minute until the end of the game, the referee went to me, ‘if you go out, yellow card,’ and I think they were not calm today,” he told reporters . The Italian was booked late in the game for entering the field, having been warned in the first half for leaving his technical area.

“Maybe they suffered the pressure of the West Ham-Arsenal game and VAR. For sure, we suffered the pressure for the speed of the ball, for the order on the pitch and we didn’t play with patience.

“Frenetic and we were rushed, but also the referee was not calm,” he added.

And while he wasn’t directly asked about the incident, unrelentingly discussed in the soccer world since it occurred, given its potential ramifications, De Zerbi weighed in: “I can’t understand the polemic because it was a foul, 200%, not 100%, if you want to talk about football.”

The Tottenham boss refused to get lured into a discussion about the decisions that went against Spurs on Monday night, notably Mathys Tel’s penalty giveaway and the spot-kick they weren’t awarded for Lukas Nmecha’s challenge on James Maddison.

Asked about the latter incident specifically, De Zerbi replied: “No, I don’t want to come inside the polemic. I didn’t see. I didn’t watch again. I don’t know."

READ THE LATEST PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

Before even taking club rivalries into consideration, local fans of Arsenal, Chelsea and any London team apart from Tottenham Hotspur have been urged to support West Ham United in their battle against Premier League relegation by the capital’s mayor Sir Sadiq Khan.

As Khan pointed out, the taxpayers of the entire city stand to face a cumulative bill of an extra £2.5 million ($3.4 million) should West Ham get relegated due the added costs of their London Stadium hosting Championship fixtures.

With two games of the campaign remaining, the Premier League relegation battle has boiled down to a two-way duel between Spurs and West Ham. While the cost of demotion for Tottenham could exceed $300 million for the club’s billionaire owners, a drop out of the division for the Hammers would hurt the pocket of regular Londoners, according to Khan.

“What I’d say to Londoners who don’t support Spurs is you should probably be cheering on West Ham,” the mayor, who was convinced to support Liverpool after being subjected to racist abuse by fans of multiple capital clubs during his youth, told The Standard.

“The previous mayor, Boris Johnson, did the worst deal that can be imaginable,” Khan explained when referring to the agreement struck between West Ham and the government to rent out the London Stadium in 2016.

“As far as West Ham are concerned, [it’s] a deal of the century where he basically gave them rent free, this amazing stadium for 100 years. Now if West Ham are relegated, we, the taxpayers, we City Hall, could lose up to £2.5 million a year.

“So what I say to Londoners who don’t support Spurs is you should probably be cheering on West Ham, because the taxpayer will lose out if West Ham go down.”

The Numbers Behind West Ham’s Potential Relegation

West Ham’s home ground, formerly known as the Olympic Stadium which was opened for the summer Games in 2012, is owned by the Greater London Authority (GLA), which is the responsibility of mayor Khan.

In the deal brokered by Boris Johnson—a fact that Khan was keen to get across given he sits on the opposite side of the political divide—West Ham pay £4.4 million per year to rent the stadium, with the rest of the costs to host each fixture taken up by GLA, i.e. the London taxpayer.

Labour assembly member Bassam Mahfouz revealed to The Standard earlier this season that West Ham’s rent will halve should they drop into the Championship—that’s already £2.2 million off the table. Furthermore, there are 23 home fixtures for clubs in England’s second tier compared to 19 in the Premier League, forcing the expenditure which goes on the likes of stewarding to rise.

“It’s a financial fiasco so badly negotiated it could only be described as an own goal,” Mahfouz seethed.

The individual cost for each taxpayer amounts to less than 50 pence—a figure which doesn’t quite grab the attention like £2.5 million. However, it is a very real problem for the government, who warned that they “would need to find additional support” to plug this yawning hole in the budget.

READ THE LATEST PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

Had a few balls bounced differently, Tottenham Hotspur could already be safe. Don’t concede that stoppage-time equalizer to Brighton & Hove Albion and convince Mathys Tel to refrain from attempting an overhead kick in his own penalty box and Spurs would be out of West Ham United’s reach.

But that’s not how it went.

Georginio Rutter did score in the 95th minute of Roberto De Zerbi’s first home game and Tel did swiftly cancel out his crisp opener against Leeds United on Monday night with a bizarre penalty concession leapt upon by Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Fortunately for Spurs, West Ham have endured their own fine-margin fumbles. The dramatic defeat to Arsenal on Sunday ensured that the Premier League relegation battle has been reduced to a straight shootout between these two capital foes. With just a pair of matches remaining, Opta’s supercomputer has offered up its best guess at the outcome of this duel.

Supercomputer Predicts 2025–26 Final Premier League Standings

“It’s going to be tough,” Nuno Espírito Santo admitted when reflecting on West Ham’s chances of survival after Sunday’s bitter reverse against Arsenal. Tough, but not yet impossible. The Hammers are given an 80.46% chance of relegation by Opta’s supercomputer, tumbling out of the division in four out of five scenarios.

Spurs are considerable favorites to keep their head above water but only two points are expected to separate the two sides, theoretically taking this relegation battle down to the final day. De Zerbi would expect nothing less: “It will be tough until the last minute against Everton,” he warned after getting a firm grasp of just how mentally fragile his roster is.

Tottenham could technically wrap it up before that final Sunday in May. Should West Ham fail to defeat Newcastle United at St. James’ Park this weekend, Spurs would mathematically guarantee their survival with a win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, May 19.

West Ham, Tottenham’s Remaining Fixtures

As wretched as Chelsea have been recently, it would be incredibly surprising to see them roll over against their fierce London rivals on home turf. Spurs have recorded just one win at Stamford Bridge in the last 36 years. Danny Drinkwater was on the Chelsea roster which last lost a home game to Tottenham on April Fool’s Day 2018.

If De Zerbi is correct in his assumption that this race against relegation will come down to the final round of fixtures, Spurs can take comfort from their record against Everton. The Toffees have lost their last four trips to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium by an aggregate score of 9–1.

West Ham host Leeds at the same time on Sunday, May 24. Daniel Farke’s side proved on Monday that they won’t necessarily have their feet up for the rest of the season—De Zerbi is certainly hoping so. “Congratulations to Leeds,” the Italian boss tactfully mused, “they played a great game, they have to play the last game at West Ham and we’ve no doubt that they will play the same way.”

READ THE LATEST PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

Crunch time has descended upon the 2025–26 Premier League season, and the start of May brought about potentially seismic shifts in the title race and relegation scrap.

While the hotly competitive race for Europe remains a muddle, and likely won’t become clear until it’s all said and done later this month, two teams are gunning for glory, and another two are bidding to survive.

And the pair are inextricably linked this weekend, to the point where North London Forever will be belted across the entirety of north London on Sunday afternoon, not merely the red half.

With so much on the line, here’s how Sports Illustrated thinks Premier League gameweek 36 could pan out.

Liverpool vs. Chelsea

Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

Fulham vs. Bournemouth

Sunderland vs. Manchester United

Manchester City vs. Brentford

Burnley vs. Aston Villa

Crystal Palace vs. Everton

Nottingham Forest vs. Newcastle United

West Ham United vs. Arsenal

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Leeds United

Premier League Predictions: Gameweek 36

Liverpool vs. Chelsea

Date: Saturday, May 9

Time: 12:30 p.m. BST / 7:30 a.m. ET / 4:30 a.m. PT

This is a fixture laden with Premier League heritage, but the upcoming bout is bound to be a rather sorry affair.

Chelsea, off the back of six consecutive league defeats, travel to Anfield with their hopes of playing in next season’s Champions League close to shattered. They were nothing short of dire on Monday afternoon, with a heavily rotated Nottingham Forest team waltzing into Stamford Bridge and prevailing at a canter—almost by accident!

They’ve been so easy to play against, but Arne Slot’s soon-to-be-dethroned champions are guilty are being similarly frail this term.

Still, Liverpool likely need just a point to secure their place among Europe’s elite for next season. Last week’s defeat at Old Trafford left a bitter taste, though, and they shouldn’t be expected to have it all their way against a woefully out-of-sorts Chelsea team.

Prediction: Liverpool 1–1 Chelsea

Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

Date: Saturday, May 9

Time: 3 p.m. BST / 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT

Relegation had been rendered inevitable for months, but Wolverhampton Wanderers at least seemed to be heading in the right direction under Rob Edwards.

However, things have started to sour again at Molineux. A once-positive rapport between previously disgruntled supporters and Edwards is seemingly obsolete.

They did earn a point at home to Sunderland last weekend, having lost three on the bounce. Still, the visitors haven’t won on their travels once in the Premier League this season, and Brighton & Hove Albion will be determined to prove their dismal defeat on Tyneside was merely a blip.

The Seagulls recently extended Fabian Hürzeler’s contract, and qualification for Europe will be swift vindication for the faith they’re showing in the German.

Prediction: Brighton 2–0 Wolves

Fulham vs. Bournemouth

Date: Saturday, May 9

Time: 3 p.m. BST / 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT

Bournemouth remarkably remain unbeaten since they parted ways with Antoine Semenyo in January, with their stellar run of form thrusting them up to sixth in the Premier League table.

Should Aston Villa claim Europa League glory later this month, a sixth-place finish will be enough to qualify for the Champions League. Thus, the Cherries are playing for plenty down the stretch, and a potential banana skin is upcoming.

Fulham offered little resistance in north London last weekend and have generally been meek on their travels this season, but they boast the sixth-best home record in the division, winning 10 of their 17 games.

The Cottagers still hold out hope of competing on the continent next season, but they’ve so far been unable to put together a run of positive results.

Prediction: Fulham 1–1 Bournemouth

Sunderland vs. Manchester United

Date: Saturday, May 9

Time: 3 p.m. BST / 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT

That was some Sunday for Manchester United, who completed their first Premier League double over arch-rivals Liverpool in a decade to seal their spot in the Champions League.

Thus, Michael Carrick’s side aren’t playing for all that much during the final three weeks of the season, but they’ll want to head into the summer still riding a wave of positivity.

Sunderland surrendered five to Forest on their previous home outing and are winless in three games, hindering their European hopes. Still, the Black Cats are thrilled with the season they’ve had upon their return to the top flight.

United have won the previous three meetings between the pair, including a 2–0 win in the reverse fixture. The hosts will also be without the suspended Dan Ballard.

Prediction: Sunderland 0–1 Man Utd

Manchester City vs. Brentford

Date: Saturday, May 9

Time: 5:30 p.m. BST / 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT

Jérémy Doku’s stoppage-time equalizer surely won’t be enough for Manchester City in the title race, with Arsenal’s recovery post-defeat at the Etihad Stadium likely meaning Pep Guardiola’s side had to be perfect down the stretch.

City seemed to be coasting to a typical triumph on Merseyside, but they were a bundle of nerves in the second half against the Toffees and completely collapsed within a potentially season-crushing 13-minute spell.

Still, Doku’s magic meant they at least departed with something. Now, they have the chance to put the pressure back on Arsenal by beating European hopefuls Brentford. The Bees are one of the very few Premier League teams to win at the Etihad Stadium since Covid.

Prediction: Man City 3–1 Brentford

Burnley vs. Aston Villa

Date: Sunday, May 10

Time: 2 p.m. BST / 9 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. PT

Aston Villa’s mood heading into Sunday’s trip to Burnley was always going to depend on the outcome of their Europa League semifinal against Forest.

Unai Emery’s indifference last weekend against Tottenham Hotspur infuriated the overwhelming majority who are desperate to lap up a Lilywhite humiliation. Villa supporters were incensed at their team’s passivity, and suddenly, they’re looking over their shoulder regarding a top-five finish.

The Villans should be O.K., given that Bournemouth are six points back with three games left. Moreover, Burnley have long been cannon fodder for the rest of the top flight.

The relegated Clarets, now led by Michael Jackson—not the ’King of Pop’ but rather a 52-year-old from Cheshire—have won just one Premier League game in 2026, and are winless at home since last October.

The sweet release of Championship soccer can’t arrive soon enough.

Prediction: Burnley 0–1 Aston Villa

Crystal Palace vs. Everton

Date: Sunday, May 10

Time: 2 p.m. BST / 9 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. PT

Crystal Palace have done just about enough to avoid the relegation scrap, so all their eggs are in the Conference League basket. The remaining Premier League games are merely inconveniences.

They’ve lost back-to-back games in the top flight, and West Ham United could come to rue the stalemate they played out at Selhurst Park against Palace’s reserves last month.

Everton will seek to take advantage of the hosts’ priorities this Sunday, especially after Doku stole two points away from them on Monday. Still, the Toffees would’ve taken a point against the title hopefuls before kick-off.

If they’re able to build on their opportunistic second half showing that hindered Man City’s title charge, starting in south London, Everton could find themselves back in Europe next season.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 0–2 Everton

Nottingham Forest vs. Newcastle United

Date: Sunday, May 10

Time: 2 p.m. BST / 10 p.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT

As bad as Chelsea have been as of late, Vitor Pereira surely wouldn’t have expected his team to blow the Blues away in the manner they did after making eight changes from the XI that bypassed Villa in the first leg of their Europa League semifinal tie.

The victory in west London means Forest are all but safe. West Ham are six points back with a far inferior goal difference.

Thus, the mood should be fairly relaxed at the City Ground when Newcastle United come to town, even if elimination from the Europa League on Thursday came as a blow.

The Magpies stopped their rot last weekend against Brighton, and are committing to Eddie Howe for 2026–27 despite an underwhelming domestic campaign. Remarkably, though, they aren’t out of European contention.

Prediction: Nott’m Forest 2–2 Newcastle

West Ham United vs. Arsenal

Date: Sunday, May 10

Time: 4:30 p.m. BST / 11:30 a.m. ET / 8:30 a.m. PT

Arsenal and Manchester City seemed to switch personas in Gameweek 34, as the former dispatched Fulham with City-like ruthlessness before Pep Guardiola’s side crumbled on Merseyside in a manner Gooners are all too familiar with.

Everton’s point has handed Arsenal a considerable advantage in the title race with such little time in the season remaining. Given the fixtures they have, many are suggesting that a victory on Sunday will all but seal the title for Mikel Arteta’s men.

The visitors will be in a euphoric mood after grinding their way to the Champions League final, but West Ham are desperate towards the foot of the table. This will be anything but simple for the seemingly liberated Gunners.

The Hammers weren’t all that bad at Brentford last week. Suddenly, though, they’re the overwhelming favorites for the drop. A result would at least put some pressure back on Spurs.

Prediction: West Ham 1–2 Arsenal

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Leeds United

Date: Monday, May 11

Time: 8 p.m. BST / 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT

Sure, Villa were much-changed and woeful last Sunday, but God forbid anyone give Roberto De Zerbi’s Tottenham Hotspur a bit of credit. They were excellent at Villa Park, with the Italian’s impact keenly felt on a once-broken squad.

In the absence of creativity, De Zerbi’s is embracing Tottenham’s midfield runners. Their effort was dogged in the West Midlands, and it’s evident that the new manager has complete buy-in from this group of players.

Last week felt like a significant turning point in the relegation scrap, but Leeds United will be tough to bypass under the lights on Monday. The visitors are enjoying their best away run in 47 years, when Don Revie’s side went 17 games unbeaten. A 2–2 draw at Bournemouth means Leeds are up to nine.

In addition, a 3–1 win over Burnley last time out all but guaranteed their safety.

Prediction: Tottenham 2–1 Leeds

Premier League Predictions: Gameweek 36

READ THE LATEST PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

Harry Kane has given Tottenham Hotspur something to smile about by backing Paris Saint-Germain to beat Arsenal in the Champions League final at the end of this month.

Kane was nine years old when he was released by the Gunners for being “a bit chubby” but went on to join Spurs aged 11 and has become one of the greatest players of his generation.

The England national team captain left Spurs for Bayern Munich in 2023 in pursuit of trophies and fell just short of reaching this season’s Champions League final. Bayern lost 6–4 to PSG over two legs, and Kane is now expecting the French team to lift the cup.

“In my opinion, PSG are slightly favorites in the final,” he told German media.

While PSG are defending European champions, Arsenal are in the final for the first time in 20 years and have never laid hands on the most famous of all of club soccer’s trophies.

The narrative around the match in Budapest’s Puskás Arena on May 30 is offense vs. defense.

PSG have scored 44 times in the Champions League so far in 2025–26, including five each in individual knockout matches against Chelsea and Bayern. Last season, their high-powered offense ran up a record-breaking margin of victory (5–0) in the final against Inter.

Arsenal’s greatest strength lies at the other end of the pitch. The Gunners are unbeaten through 14 matches in Europe this season—the only team to emerge from the league phase unscathed—and have conceded just six times in the competition.

History at Stake for Arsenal

Arsenal could finish this season with a Premier League-Champions League double, ending a 22-year domestic drought in the process. They could also finish it with nothing, or anything in between.

The Premier League title, which Arsenal last won in 2003–04, appears mostly in hand. That comes after Manchester City dropped points unexpectedly in Monday’s draw with Everton.

The Gunners have a five-point advantage, which City can only now cut to two with their game in hand that will be played during the final midweek of the season. Plenty can still change, but Arsenal have their destiny in their own hands and winning the final three matches against West Ham United, Burnley and Crystal Palace would secure the title regardless of whatever else happens.

Winning the Champions League would also be huge for the club, having been legitimately one of the best teams in Europe in the early years of the 21st century but never getting over the line. After sinking away from that elite bracket, Arsenal have rebuilt and returned.

Completing the double would be no mean feat. Of England’s Champions League winners during the Premier League era, only Manchester United (1998–99, 2007–08) and Manchester City (2022–23) have been crowned European champions in the same year they’ve won the domestic title.

None of the rest—Liverpool (2004–05,2018–19) or Chelsea (2011–12, 2020–21)—have managed to win the Premier League during their triumphant European season.

How England’s Champions League Winners Finished in the Premier League

READ THE LATEST CHAMPIONS LEAGUE NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

The latest twist at the bottom of the Premier League standings came on Sunday when Tottenham Hotspur secured a head-turning 2–1 victory over Aston Villa.

Almost as thrilling as the title race between Arsenal and Manchester City has been the chaotic fight to stay up in the English top flight. At one point, Leeds United, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham and West Ham United were all in contention to join Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Championship next season.

As the 2025–26 campaign comes to a close, though, the relegation battle has become a two-horse race between Spurs and the Hammers. Heading into Gameweek 35, the latter had the edge in 17th place over Roberto De Zerbi’s men, but two monumental swings saw the two clubs switch places.

West Ham suffered a lopsided 3–0 defeat to Brentford on Saturday, opening the door for Tottenham to leapfrog them into safety with a win at Villa Park—and they emphatically delivered.

With only three matches left, here’s how the Opta supercomputer predicts the final relegation battle to play out in the Premier League.

Supercomputer Predicts 2025–26 Premier League Relegation Battle

Leeds United are well on their way to safety after securing a 3–1 victory over Burnley on Friday. The three points took Daniel Farke’s side to 14th in the table, seven points clear of the drop zone. Although Opta expects the Whites to finish a place below where they currently sit, the club will have little complaints.

Below them are Nottingham Forest, who must wait until Monday to take on Chelsea. Even just a point at Stamford Bridge would see the Tricky Trees reach the magical 40-point mark that typically is enough to stay up. The supercomputer backs Vítor Pereira’s men to indeed remain safe, giving them just a 2.29% chance of relegation.

The real drama comes with Tottenham. Spurs have now tallied back-to-back league victories to obtain a slight cushion in 17th place. Still, they are by no means out of the woods and have 22.48% odds of being relegation for the first time since 1977.

Tottenham’s biggest competitors are West Ham. This weekend’s stumble put the Hammers in the danger zone, prompting Opta to put an overwhelming 75.09% chance on Nuno Espírito Santo’s side playing in the Championship in 2025–26.

Around just a single point is predicted to be the difference between Tottenham and West Ham, though, which means it could come down to the final matchday to ultimately see which side joins Burnley and Wolves in the second tier next season.

READ THE LATEST PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

Leeds United all but guaranteed their safety by beating Burnley on Friday night, and Nottingham Forest’s level of performance since Vitor Pereira took charge suggests two London rivals will slog it out during the final three weeks of the season to stay in the division.

We may revisit that assumption should Forest succumb to Chelsea on Monday afternoon, especially with their Europa League focus and domestic fixtures that lie ahead.

Anyway, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United; who’d have thought it, eh? Even if Spurs finished 17th last season and the Hammers obviously weren’t going anywhere with Graham Potter in charge, only Nostradamus could’ve foreshadowed an existential battle between the pair during the final month of the season.

West Ham’s momentum stalled at Brentford over the weekend, leaving the door ajar for Roberto De Zerbi’s Lilywhites, who carved out a crucial 2–1 win over Aston Villa to climb above their capital foes and out of the relegation zone.

Here’s how the remaining matches look for the protagonists of the dramatic relegation battle.

Tottenham and West Ham’s Remaining Premier League Fixtures Compared

While Tottenham supporters have actively rooted against their own to ensure previous Arsenal Premier League title bids have gone up in smoke, the fanbase should be unified in their support of the Gunners next weekend.

Victory for Mikel Arteta’s side in east London would greatly aid their survival bid, especially as they’re hosting a Leeds United team that may be taking their foot off the gas in May, given that they’re pretty much safe.

A result for West Ham could hand Man City the title, so it wouldn’t be all bad news for the Lilywhites, but it’d make their task of staying up considerably more difficult. Imagine the pressure they’ll be under for that Monday night fixture. Woof.

After that, Spurs visit Stamford Bridge in a midweek clash after Chelsea’s FA Cup final with Manchester City. It’s a fixture that will evoke memories of the “Battle of the Bridge” from a decade ago, when the Blues fought back from 2–0 down to earn the point that sealed the league title for miracle-workers Leicester City.

West Ham are up at Newcastle United on the penultimate weekend, perhaps encouraged by their win at St. James’ Park last season. Newcastle did stop the rot against Brighton & Hove Albion, but won’t be playing for much in their final home outing of 2025–26.

Both teams are at home on the final day, with Spurs welcoming Everton to N17, and West Ham facing Leeds.

READ THE LATEST PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS AND GOSSIP

U.S. men’s national team manager Mauricio Pochettino admitted he “really loves” Tottenham Hotspur and will “one day” return to the Premier League, but he did not specifically name north London as his end destination.

The Argentine, who spent six years at Spurs, made the switch from club management to the international stage in Sept. 2024 when he took over the Stars and Stripes. It has been anything but a straightforward journey for Pochettino in the United States, and there is plenty of speculation that his time at the helm of the USMNT will end once his contract expires after the 2026 World Cup.

Pochettino himself has fueled such rumors, openly flirting with a potential return to Europe as reports link him to Real Madrid and Tottenham—and he only stoked the flames on the Stick to Football podcast.

When asked if he wants to return to the Premier League, the 54-year-old said, “One day, yes because I really like England. I think my human profile and coach profile match very well with the Premier League and with the culture, the idea, the idiosyncrasy and the philosophy.”

Pochettino, who also previously managed Chelsea, did not delve further into what team he has in mind for such a return, but his vocal fondness for Spurs certainly left the door open for the manager to reclaim his place on the touchline at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ... if they survive a tense relegation battle.

Pochettino Breaks Silence on Spurs’ Fall From Grace

One of the biggest stories in the Premier League this season has been Tottenham’s descent down the table. The club currently sits in 18th place with 34 points from 34 games this season.

Spurs’ managerial carousel went from Thomas Frank to Igor Tudor, to now Roberto De Zerbi as they try and climb to safety to avoid a shock relegation. They are two points behind 17th-place West Ham United, but still must face Aston Villa, Leeds United, Chelsea and Everton to close out the season.

“It is really sad,” Pochettino said about Tottenham’s current crisis. “I really love Tottenham; it’s one of the most important parts of my life as a coach and in my personal life too. I can talk from my experience in Tottenham and what I can tell you for me it’s one of the biggest clubs in the world.

“Tottenham is a massive club with a massive following.”

Yet they could get relegated to the second tier in England for the first time since 1977, an incredible fall from grace considering Spurs finished second in the 2016–17 season, made the Champions League final in 2019 and won the Europa League last season.

Is Pochettino the Answer to Tottenham’s Woes?

The first two of the aforementioned accomplishments for Spurs happened under Pochettino’s reign. The Argentine admitted the team “challenged” for silverware but ultimately “missed this last step.”

Of course there’s an idyllic reality in which Pochettino returns to north London and gets the club back on track, leading Tottenham back to the top four and forgetting about their disastrous 2025–26 campaign, much like Manchester United’s sudden resurgence under Michael Carrick, who has all but secured the Red Devils’ Champions League return next season.

Yet the last time Pochettino managed Spurs, he had the likes of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min to lead the team to new heights. Now, there is a stunning lack of true game-changers in north London, and the return of Pochettino will not immediately change that. After all, the biggest talents in Europe are certainly not keen on joining a team in such turmoil.

Without better recruitment, the team will likely continue to fall below their previous standards no matter who is on the touchline. Sure, Pochettino could perhaps speed up the process, but he is by no means a fix-all for a team largely full of unproven talents who cannot even win matches, let alone challenge for trophies.

READ THE LATEST PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

“I started with not big luck!” Roberto De Zerbi reflected with a palpable sense of ruefulness soon after being appointed by Tottenham Hotspur. That was an understatement at the time and has since only been compounded by more misfortune.

Beyond bad bounces of the ball, terribly timed injuries have dogged the Italian’s brief tenure. Xavi Simons notably added his name to the long list of casualties and has also been joined by first-choice striker Dominic Solanke. The Daily Mail claim that the hamstring injury the center forward sustained in a rare win over Wolverhampton Wanderers could keep him sidelined for as many as eight weeks.

There is the slim possibility of a swift recovery of three weeks—which would open up the chance of some involvement on the final day—although the report confidently describes Solanke’s season as “over.” Thanks to De Zerbi’s rotten luck, he is hardly Tottenham’s only long-term absentee.

Every Tottenham Player Ruled Out for Rest of Season

Dominic Solanke

Injury: Thigh

Last Appearance: April 25 (vs. Wolves)

Solanke’s hamstring injury will also likely scupper his chances of sneaking onto the England roster for this summer’s World Cup. A selfless forward adept at holding the ball up, the Spurs man arguably serves as the closest stylistic replacement to Harry Kane at Thomas Tuchel’s disposal.

The 28-year-old appeared in both of England’s March friendlies but may have seen his international aspirations wiped out by overstretching at Molineux.

Xavi Simons

Injury: Knee

Last Appearance: April 25 (vs. Wolves)

No sooner had De Zerbi started forming a “special connection” with Xavi Simons than Tottenham’s potential savior ruptured his ACL. The Dutch playmaker was left “heartbroken” by the diagnosis

“All I’ve wanted to do is fight for my team,” he lamented, “and now the ability to do that has been snatched away from me, along with the World Cup.”

Cristian Romero

Injury: Knee

Last Appearance: April 12 (vs. Sunderland)

Cristian Romero may boast one of the worst individual and collective debut seasons as a Tottenham Hotspur captain across the club’s 144-year existence.

The combustible Argentine has lived up to all his worst character traits, collecting 11 yellow cards and two reds while patrolling a backline which has conceded the fourth-most goals in the Premier League. To top it off, Romero got shoved into his own goalkeeper to sustain a knee injury which has forced him to watch the final six weeks of the season from the sidelines.

Wilson Odobert

Injury: Knee

Last Appearance: Feb. 10 (vs. Newcastle)

No Tottenham player has taken more shots this season without scoring a single Premier League goal than Wilson Odobert (21). The erratic winger won’t have the chance to break his duck after getting struck down with the ACL curse coursing through Spurs.

Ben Davies

Injury: Knee

Last Appearance: Jan. 17 (vs. West Ham)

Any warm body would be of use to Tottenham at this point but Ben Davies’s chances of featuring again this season appear to be slim. The experienced defender has been sidelined since undergoing ankle surgery in January.

If Davies’s season is over, so too could be his Spurs playing career. The 33-year-old is set to be out of contract in June, bringing an end to his 12-year stay in north London.

Mohammed Kudus

Injury: Thigh

Last Appearance: Jan. 4 (vs. Sunderland)

Mohammed Kudus had been upheld as Tottenham’s saving grace upon his return to training earlier this month only to suffer a dramatic relapse which will likely keep him out of action until the World Cup.

De Zerbi took partial blame for Kudus’s absence. “I don’t want to push too much as we lost Kudus in this way,” the Italian coach admitted. “I will use the players when they are totally available to play and start training; it’s better to lose one more game than get another injury.”

Dejan Kulusevski

Injury: Knee

Last Appearance: May 11 (vs. Crystal Palace)

Dejan Kulusevski must have to be considered a hypothetical Tottenham player at this point. Last season’s leading assist provider has been sidelined with a unique knee injury since May, clouding his return in mystery by refusing to make any public statements—until March.

When Kulusevski was drawn upon his potential return date, he failed to mention Spurs at all, focusing instead on getting back to feature for Sweden at this summer’s World Cup.

READ THE LATEST SOCCER NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

Barcelona are on the cusp of claiming back-to-back La Liga titles under Hansi Flick, but the Blaugrana will not be resting on their laurels this summer and might find Tottenham Hotspur a potential gold mine when it comes to recruiting.

The club’s transfer priorities are clear, and there may be scope for Barça, despite their well-documented financial woes, could have the license to go big at a couple of distinct positions of need.

However, Barça aren’t in a position to ignore potential bargains, and Tottenham’s likely clearout in the event of a stunning relegation could be pounced upon by the Catalan giants.

Spurs, last season’s Europa League winners, currently sit in the Premier League relegation zone with only four games remaining. Despite claiming a first win in the league this calendar year, they’re still two points adrift of safety and in a dire position.

Barcelona Potentially Set for North London Bargain Hunt

Tottenham may find themselves somewhere absolutely nobody predicted in preseason, with a first relegation in almost 50 years staring them in the face. Injuries and incompetence from those running the show have played significant parts in their demise, as this playing squad undeniably boasts talent.

And Spanish media outlet SPORT, running with Barcelona sporting director Deco’s reported trip to London last month, have speculated that the Blaugrana could be in the market for several of Spurs’ wantaway stars in the event of relegation.

Center backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are almost certain to leave, no matter how the final month of the season plays out, and both have previously been linked with a move to Catalonia. Barça were also in the market for young midfielder Lucas Bergvall, who instead joined the Lilywhites in 2024, while Xavi Simons became a viral sensation during a childhood spent at La Masia.

The La Liga champions supposedly held meetings with Xavi’s representatives last summer, but were unable to striike a deal. Any interested clubs are now likely to be deterred after the Dutch playmaker tore his ACL that will keep him off the pitch until 2027.

SPORT speculated that right back Pedro Porro could also be a summer option, and suggested that both Romero and Van de Ven are on Barcelona’s radar. They’ve reportedly held talks with Tottenham defender Luka Vušković, too.

The Positions Barcelona Must Target This Summer

Links with Tottenham’s two starting center backs make sense, given that Barça are crying out for a left-sided defender after letting Iñigo Martínez walk without signing a replacement last summer.

Van de Ven’s stock has dwindled in 2026, but Romero is also comfortable playing as a left center back, doing so on plenty of occasions for the national team. The Argentine has previously spoken about his desire to one day play in La Liga, and his father recently revealed that a release clause in the contract he signed last summer exists.

Barcelona are well-stocked in midfield, but are set to aggressively target a new striker. They won’t be going after Dominic Solanke, Richarlison or Randal Kolo Muani, with Atlético Madrid’s Julián Alvarez the dream.

The club is also yet to make a decision on Marcus Rashford, who has only impressed in spurts on loan from Manchester United and can be signed permanently for around $35 million (€30 million).

READ THE LATEST BARCELONA NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC