Tottenham approach their final two Premier League fixtures in a tense relegation battle, sitting only two points above the drop zone with matches against Chelsea and Everton to come, despite an Opta supercomputer giving Spurs an 81.5% probability of staying up.

Former chairman Daniel Levy admitted deep shock at the situation, explaining the emotional impact of seeing Spurs dragged into danger and saying: “Emptiness. But I’m optimistic that we will remain in the Premier League.” The comments underline how far expectations have shifted.

Levy, who assumed control at Tottenham in 2001 and remained chairman until September last year, insisted he never anticipated such a scenario, answering “never, no, not in a million years” when asked if any signs pointed towards a relegation fight during his tenure.

Across more than two decades in charge, Levy guided a major transformation of the club’s infrastructure, most notably the construction of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, while Spurs collected two major trophies, shaping a period in which relegation concerns appeared distant from daily planning.

On the pitch, Tottenham lifted the EFL Cup in the 2007-08 season and later ended a long wait for European silverware when Ange Postecoglou delivered the Europa League title against Manchester United, the club’s first continental success since the 1983-84 campaign.

Since Levy left and Peter Charrington stepped in as part of a broader leadership reshuffle, league form has deteriorated sharply, leaving Spurs in free fall and turning what had been a team with European ambitions into one focused on basic Premier League survival.

Recent performances under Roberto De Zerbi offer some encouragement for supporters, with Tottenham conceding only one first-half goal in five league matches with De Zerbi in charge after letting in at least one before the break in each of the previous 11 games.

Tottenham’s results have also stabilised over the last four Premier League fixtures, producing two wins and two draws and matching the eight points gained across the previous 17 matches combined, when Spurs posted only one victory alongside five draws and 11 defeats.

With safety still not secured but form, defensive improvement and probability models favouring survival, Tottenham enter decisive meetings with Chelsea and Everton balancing the legacy of Levy’s long tenure against the reality of a season that has brought unexpected pressure near the bottom.