Everything Roberto De Zerbi Said Following Tottenhams 2-0 Win Over Chelsea

Roberto De Zerbi had plenty to reflect on after Tottenham secured a rare, deserved 2–0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

At a ground so often associated with disappointment for Spurs, his players delivered a performance that offered fresh encouragement after a difficult start to the season. The result brought successive Premier League wins and gave supporters another reason to believe progress is taking shape.

Speaking afterwards, De Zerbi described it as an important evening for his side, discussing the performance, individual contributions, and the work still ahead as Tottenham look to turn recent improvement into something more lasting this season.

“The quality of the players… today Mateus Fernandes, Tonali, van der Ven, Robertson, Mathys Tel, Maddison, Gallagher - they played very well," he said.

Tottenham controlled much of the first half at Stamford Bridge, enjoying 70 per cent possession and preventing Chelsea from establishing a rhythm. Roberto De Zerbi’s side moved the ball confidently, with James Maddison finding space to influence attacks and help Spurs advance through midfield.

However, their superiority did not produce an opening goal. Omar Marmoush squandered a clear close-range opportunity, leaving Tottenham without the reward their approach deserved. Chelsea still provided occasional reminders of their threat, with Antonin Kinsky making saves from Cole Palmer, Jordan Henderson and Morgan Rogers. The Spurs went into the interval encouraged, but needed more ruthlessness.

“Then the quality of the play, because we created many problems for Chelsea. The mentality, because we wanted to win this game. We fought in the right way and we made our fans and our club very happy.”

Roberto confirmed that his side's mentality and belief were there thanks largely to that dominance in possession.

“At half-time, I said exactly like this,” he added. “I said we are playing very well, but there is too much balance - the result is too much balance. We can't consider that chance to score or to shoot, and we have to create more and more chances.

“I think the key for this club, for our club, for our team, is the mentality. I think now we are improving in the mentality. There is another atmosphere, there is another connection, and another relationship with the players.”

Roberto was then asked if the performance was exactly what he wanted from his team, “Yes. This is a normal answer, but we played 90 minutes, we played very well. Great individual performances, great collective performance because we played very well. And then we put something different than Tottenham, I think, in the last period. Different attitude, different relationships with the players, different group.”

Tottenham maintained their authority after the interval. Their persistence finally paid off in the 77th minute when Mike Penders punched Mateus Fernandes’ corner into his own net under pressure from Jan Paul van Hecke.

Chelsea’s problems deepened three minutes later as Cole Palmer received a second yellow card for a challenge on Conor Gallagher. Mathys Tel then settled the contest with a superb individual goal, driving forward from the left before cutting inside and finishing low. Spurs deservedly secured three points with a commanding second-half performance away.

Mateus Fernandes put in a Man Of The Match performance at Stamford Bridge and Roberto was asked about his views on that performance: “Changing the spirit of the group, changing the performance of the players, especially the more fragile players, maybe the younger players. Mateus Fernandes maybe was one of the best players on the pitch like Mathys Tel. Archie Gray is younger, but he's older as a mentality. I'm very, very happy.”

Although James Maddison’s injury forced Roberto De Zerbi into a midfield change, Spurs continued to control the game with former Chelsea captain Conor Gallagher coming on to replace him. “I think it's not a very important problem. We need to do the medical check tomorrow, after tomorrow, I don't know. I hope it's not a big problem because he's a special player for us. We need him.”

Asked about the change in mentality in his young squad, De Zerbi said, “I think what I call the negative record was the last problem we fought before the game.

Normally we wanted to make our fans happy, but it's not our responsibility, it's the results of the past. Now, winning the game, we are very happy for them, very proud for the club. But I think we are working to change the mentality of our club in the last seasons.

Seven points after Manchester, before Manchester we spoke a lot. A big, big meeting, removing the mask and speaking honestly, clearly in front of ourselves. And from that moment I think we changed something in ourselves.”

Tottenham’s control was reflected in 68.5 per cent possession and 15 shots to Chelsea’s seven. Spurs completed 554 passes compared with the hosts’ 215, recording 86.7 per cent passing accuracy. Although both sides managed four shots on target, Tottenham dictated possession and sustained greater attacking pressure throughout their deserved victory.

“Yes. Maybe in the first half we suffered too much. At half-time I said to the players 'you are playing very well, but we are conceding too much than the game is saying'. Because we lost one ball in the left side, Micky van de Ven and Tonali, and we concede the goal [shot].

We lost the ball in build-up with Toni Kinsky and Palmer shoots, for nothing. We could create more chances, also in the first half. I think we dominated the game. But we created too few [chances], if you consider the quality and the level of our performance. But we can't forget, Chelsea is still Chelsea, they have a clear style of play, clear organisation, great players, great coach. So the level of difficulty of the game was high.”

Seven points from three matches have given Tottenham a platform to build momentum after their difficult start. Successive victories over Coventry and Chelsea should strengthen belief in De Zerbi’s methods.

The challenge now is to sustain those standards, turn improved confidence into consistent performances, and make this recovery lasting. “Why not? There is no reason why not. I can't understand why we have to ask this question. Because we won two games in a row. We made seven points, OK. But we didn't win nothing. We can find again the first period. We want to improve, improve and improve, to be better game by game, week by week. I think we have suffered enough.” De Zerbi continues to talk about his side mentality, “I think I'm lucky because I have great players and great people. When you work with smart people, sensitive people, they already know what we need to do to be better. To improve the situation, to change the situation. We have many, many great guys on the dressing room. I think the credit is for them. And now we have to keep this way.”

Tottenham next host Crystal Palace on Saturday, October 31, with kick-off at 5.30pm.

Another London derby gives Roberto De Zerbi’s side a chance to secure a third successive Premier League win. After overcoming Chelsea, Spurs will look to maintain their momentum and give their home supporters another performance to celebrate.