Mauricio Pochettino is convinced Tottenham will avoid Premier League relegation, even as Spurs hover just above the drop zone and move closer to appointing Roberto De Zerbi. The former Tottenham head coach believes the current squad and fanbase will be enough to secure survival.

Tottenham sit 17th in the Premier League table, a single point ahead of 18th-placed West Ham. Results before their trip to Sunderland on April 12 could push Spurs into the bottom three, intensifying pressure around the club and any incoming coaching appointment.

Data from the Opta supercomputer underlines the risk facing Tottenham in this relegation battle. Spurs are given a 26.4% chance of dropping into the Championship, while West Ham are rated at 57.9% and currently stand as the most likely side to go down.

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Off the pitch, Tottenham are understood to be closing in on a long-term agreement with Roberto De Zerbi. If confirmed, De Zerbi would become Spurs’ third permanent head coach this season, following short and troubled tenures for Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor.

For Pochettino, now in charge of the United States national team, the idea of Tottenham playing second-tier football feels impossible to accept. “With my connection to Tottenham, it’s impossible to feel nothing about Tottenham, about the club, the people that work there, and about the fans,” Pochettino told reporters before the USA friendly against Portugal.

Pochettino underlined belief in the players and supporters to drive a survival push. “That’s my wish, and I am sure they’re going to stay up, with a coach or without a coach, because of the players. I think there are the players, and then it’s a club with fans that are going to do everything to create the energy to win.”

Pochettino has been repeatedly linked with a Tottenham return since the World Cup, with reports claiming Spurs could approach the coach who guided them to the 2019 Champions League final. Pochettino distanced himself from such talk, saying: “At the moment, I think we are very, very focused, with our full focus here on the World Cup. I think everyone knows that I am committed to the national team here. I think it’s not a point to talk about the future. Never say never. In football, everything can happen.”

Tottenham now balance on-field relegation pressure with the impending decision on De Zerbi, while Pochettino watches from international duty but maintains emotional ties. The club’s fate will depend on results in the coming weeks, as players, staff and supporters respond to a severe test.