Tottenham Hotspur managed to survive their worst ever season, defeating Everton 1-0 on Matchday 38 of the 2025/26 Premier League season in a gutsy defensive performance in front of their home fans, sending West Ham United instead on their not so merry way down to the EFL Championship.
Here are five individuals at the club who were most responsible for Spurs weathering the storm and surviving a drop that seemed almost inevitable at one point.
Manager Roberto De Zerbi
It all begins with Roberto De Zerbi. The Spurs manager came on board and immediately gave the Lilywhites the hope they needed, totally transforming the narrative around the club began by Thomas Frank and unassailed by Igor Tudor. De Zerbi turned Spurs veteran players back into killers from previously being cowardly lions, and just about every player benefited from the Italian manager taking charge of the situation. He is the one most responsible for Spurs survival despite not actually being the one out there on the pitch.
RB Pedro Porro
On his day, Pedro Porro is one of the best right backs in the world, but Tottenham Hotspur did not get to see that level in the middle of the season when everyone started dropping off. But after casting a disgruntled figure pointing the blame at others and genuinely running like a man burned out of his soul, Porro went back to being the soul of Spurs under De Zerbi by the end of the season, producing a world class display on Matchday 38 to seal the deal.
CM Rodrigo Bentancur
Rodrigo Bentancur was one of those midfielders playing cowardly football at the beginning of the season, even when things were going decently well, but he went back to being an asset for Tottenham under De Zerbi. The italian manager had Benta pulling the strings and leading the charge by the end of the campaign.
LW Mathys Tel
The lone attacking threat with Randal Kolo Muani embarrassing everyone, Dominic Solanke hobbled and ineffective, and even Richarlison disappointingly fading down the stretch, Mathys Tel was the one with the energy and quality to take defenders on and make a difference. Once Xavi Simons tore his ACL, Tel was the only Spurs player who could create chances for himself, and that kind of ability helps keep a club afloat.
CM Joao Palhinha
Joao Palhinha fittingly scored the winning goal against Everton, showing real scrap and fight both in the winner and in all that he did during the game. Maybe Palhinha isn't at the necessary level of a Tottenham starter, but as a squad player, having a character like this who will run, work his socks off, and come up big in the clutch is so invaluable.
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