Italian coach De Zerbi took charge of Spurs at the end of March 2026, when the club was facing a serious crisis.
He became Tottenham’s third manager of the season, inheriting a team that sat only one point above the relegation zone with seven matches left.
Despite several nervous moments, he guided the club to safety. Tottenham then supported his rebuilding plans by spending more than £300m on summer transfers for the first time in their history.
Although the team began the new campaign slowly and continued to lack a cutting edge in attack, this performance gave Tottenham’s long-suffering supporters renewed optimism.
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown described Tottenham’s commanding display as a major statement.
Keown praised Maddison’s outstanding midfield performance, highlighting his cleverness, energy and bravery when competing for possession.
He also applauded Tel’s impact on the left and Mohammed Kudus’ effectiveness on the right, while noting how confidently the entire team used the ball.
Tottenham controlled almost 70% of possession, an impressive figure for a side that had recently been close to the bottom of the table. Keown suggested that the arrival of key players had transformed the team.
At the final whistle, De Zerbi ran onto the pitch to celebrate with the travelling fans as his coaching staff and substitutes rushed towards the players gathered in the corner.
The manager had previously revealed that he inherited a squad whose confidence was so low that some players cried after matches. He believed the greater control he received over summer recruitment justified the club’s difficult experiences during the previous season.
Tel fittingly delivered the decisive goal after facing criticism from his own supporters following his £30m move from Bayern Munich in June 2025. The 21-year-old completed a powerful run with a superb low finish, securing Tottenham’s second league victory at Chelsea in 36 years.
The French forward said the result was particularly meaningful because Tottenham had visited Chelsea many times without winning. He praised the team’s mentality and said the players should enjoy the achievement.
Tel added that Spurs created numerous opportunities and remained united throughout the match. He described the goal as a special personal moment and urged the team to maintain its momentum.
Summer arrival Matheus Fernandes said the players wanted to transform the club’s mentality, defeat leading opponents and dedicate the victory to the supporters.
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