De Zerbi wants Spurs to play with 'blood, character, spirit' in final survival battle

[p]The Italian coach ‌said he would not be distracted by criticism of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/romero-cristian/jBZTWXMn/"]Romero[/a], who left to continue ‌his rehabilitation from a knee injury with Argentina's medical staff ‌ahead of next month's World Cup despite [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tottenham/UDg08Ohm/"]Spurs[/a] sitting just two points ‌above the Premier League drop zone.[/p][p][b]"With me he showed always his ‌desire to stay with us. He is injured. I'm not stupid," [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/de-zerbi-roberto/pYizckpN/"]De Zerbi[/a] told reporters on Friday.[/b][/p][p][b]"I think he can't change nothing, if he is in ‌the stadium or not. I have no ⁠time to lose energy by thinking ‌other things. We have to be focused on the game. We have ​players good enough to achieve our target."[/b][/p][p]A draw with 12th-placed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/everton/KluSTr9s/"]Everton[/a] will almost certainly be enough for Spurs to ensure ​survival, as the North London club have a far better goal difference than 18th-placed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/west-ham/Cxq57r8g/"]West Ham United[/a].[/p][image alt="Tottenham's position in the Premier League" id="41fb995e-5990-49a4-a9c7-8f12a7131886" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="e6e6daf9-7efb-4298-b404-a4d201724da5" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p][b]"We have to play with blood, ⁠character and spirit because ​it is a final," said the 46-year-old, recalling Spurs' triumph in the Europa League last season under former manager Ange Postecoglou.[/b][/p][p][b]"They played a great final last season, and they won a trophy. Maybe there ‌was a bonus. After tomorrow, there is not a trophy or a bonus, there is something more important, the future and the history of the club. The pride of the players and the dignity of every one of us," De Zerbi said.[/b][/p][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/solanke-dominic/OrADwZse/"]Solanke[/a] back for Spurs[/h2][p]Spurs will be boosted on Sunday by the return of forward Dominic Solanke, after he missed nearly a month with a hamstring injury.[/p][p][b]"Solanke is available. We have to decide if he starts or ‌not," De Zerbi said.[/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/spence-djed/GQAxKWes/"]Djed Spence[/a], who suffered a broken jaw during ​Tuesday's loss to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chelsea/4fGZN2oK/"]Chelsea[/a], will also be available, the manager ‌added.[/p][p][b]"The pressure is good. It depends if you are able to think, to stay strong, stay positive... this type of game you can become better as a coach, a player and a man," he said.[/b][/p][p][b]"You can become better by going through the ⁠tough moments. If everything is ⁠good in life, you can ‌improve, but not in this way."[/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/everton-KluSTr9s/tottenham-UDg08Ohm/?mid=W6HXFFKE"]Follow Spurs' final Premier League encounter with Flashscore.[/a][/p]