Tottenham face a serious threat of relegation to the Championship, and Tim Sherwood believes the consequences would be severe for both head coach Roberto De Zerbi and the squad. The former Spurs manager fears De Zerbi would be hard to retain in the second tier and expects many players to depart, even though Sherwood still thinks Tottenham can collect enough points to survive.

Sherwood’s concern follows a damaging weekend for Spurs in the Premier League relegation race. Tottenham twice led but drew 2-2 with Brighton after conceding late, then saw fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest recover to defeat Burnley 4-1. With Wolves and Burnley almost certain to go down, the Opta supercomputer currently gives Spurs a 56.6% probability of relegation.

Despite the numbers, Sherwood predicts Tottenham will still escape the drop if performances improve over the final weeks. Spurs have five league fixtures left, against Wolves, Aston Villa, Leeds United, Chelsea and Everton, and Sherwood expects three victories from that run. Sherwood accepts that this target might not be enough alone, as survival also depends on rivals dropping points.

Tottenham’s schedule places extra pressure on matches against Wolves, Leeds United and Everton, which appear more favourable than clashes with Aston Villa and Chelsea. Those games sit against a wider backdrop, with Wolves and Burnley already seen as almost relegated. The remaining fixtures for Spurs are shown below, underlining how little margin for error now exists.

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De Zerbi only arrived at Tottenham earlier this month, replacing Igor Tudor and signing a five-year contract. The Italian head coach has publicly promised to honour that deal even if Spurs fall into the Championship. Sherwood questions whether such a pledge will hold if relegation happens, pointing to De Zerbi’s previous disagreements with club hierarchies as a reason for doubt.

Sherwood expects that a drop into the Championship would trigger major change across the Tottenham dressing room. He believes many current players would leave and argues that supporters might welcome a reset after several disappointing seasons. Sherwood stresses that recruitment strategies must alter in the second tier, with the emphasis on individuals committed to the challenge of promotion.

He told Stats Perform: “How many, if you asked the Tottenham fans, would they want to keep anyway? Not too many, I would suggest. And it’s a completely different outlook. Your recruitment has to change. It’s a different animal, the Championship, compared to the Premier League. You have to get players, first and foremost, who want to play in the Championship and then want to progress with this great club. And that includes the manager as well.”

Sherwood also doubts whether De Zerbi would genuinely remain if Spurs are relegated, especially with interest likely from top-flight clubs. Sherwood notes that De Zerbi has clashed with leadership groups before and sees a risk of history repeating. For Tottenham, losing both key players and a head coach in demand would complicate any attempt to rebuild quickly.

Sherwood said: “He’s said, ‘it’s not about what division we’re in, it’s about how aligned I am with the hierarchy’. Well, we’ve seen Roberto De Zerbi get unaligned with a lot of clubs he’s been at, so it’s easy to jump, isn’t it? If they’re in the championship, I think it would be very difficult for them to keep hold of him, because why would he want to manage a team in a championship? If he sticks to his word, then he stays.”

The former Tottenham manager is similarly worried about how De Zerbi will handle a tense relegation fight. Sherwood rates De Zerbi’s tactical work but highlights a lack of experience in such high-pressure, survival-focused situations. Tottenham’s recent managerial turnover, involving Ange Postecoglou, Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor, has already failed to provide a clear uplift in results.

Sherwood reflected on that instability, saying: “It’s a huge worry. This group of players have let the club down for a couple of years now. We keep seeing the hierarchy changing managers. First it was Ange Postecoglou, then Thomas Frank, then Igor Tudor came in andit never worked and there wasn’t a lift. Now we’ve got De Zerbi, who I think is a very good manager. But we’ve never seen him operate in these circumstances.”

Tottenham fans, Spurs relegation pressure and Roberto De Zerbi outlook

Despite these reservations, Sherwood sees encouraging elements in recent Tottenham performances and insists that results can still turn. Sherwood believes a run of three wins from the final five matches is achievable, even if other teams’ results remain beyond Tottenham’s control. The focus, Sherwood argues, must shift from style and promise to securing points as quickly as possible.

Sherwood said: “I’m seeing positive signs, definitely. But forget positive signs, we need points. I genuinely believe they will get three wins between now and the end of the season. Now, whether three wins is going to be enough…Other teams are going to need to not win certain games. But I think there’s three games they will win and stay in the division.”

The pressure on the squad has been visible, yet support from the stands remains strong. Tottenham acknowledged that backing after the Brighton draw with a message to fans on social media, underlining the bond between team and supporters at a difficult moment for the club.

Tottenham now stand at a crossroads, balancing survival hopes with the risk of deep structural change. Relegation would almost certainly reshape the squad and raise serious questions about Roberto De Zerbi’s future. If Spurs can deliver the three wins Sherwood predicts, they are likely to avoid those outcomes and keep planning in the Premier League.