A Bittersweet Victory for Tottenham
Tottenham Hotspur secured their first Premier League win of 2026 with a narrow victory against Wolves, but the triumph was overshadowed by concerns over potential injuries to key players. The match, played at Molineux, saw Joao Palhinha score the decisive goal in the 82nd minute, marking Roberto De Zerbi’s first win as the club’s manager and ending a 16-match league win drought. However, the victory came at a cost, as Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke were forced off the pitch due to injuries.
De Zerbi expressed his frustration over the setbacks, highlighting the challenges the team faces due to ongoing injury issues. “I’m happy for the result. I hope this result can change something in our head, in our mentality,” he said. “For the other results, it’s already very tough to win a game for us. If we put our heads on the other teams, it becomes too tough for me.”
The manager also voiced his concerns about losing more players, mentioning the potential absence of Cristian Romero and Mohammed Kudus, along with Solanke and Xavi. “We can win the games with the players, not with the coaches. The coaches are important but the players are more important. But I want to be positive.”
Injuries and Resilience
Tottenham started the match strongly, with Randal Kolo Muani testing the Wolves goal early on. However, the momentum was disrupted when Solanke suffered an injury in the 37th minute, forcing him off the field. Xavi Simons then collapsed in agony during the 57th minute, but De Zerbi confirmed that the playmaker felt better after the match.
“Xavi felt pain. Now I spoke to him two, three minutes ago. He feels better than the beginning of the injury,” De Zerbi said. The manager also reassured fans that Solanke’s injury was not serious.
Despite the setbacks, Tottenham relied on their backup goalkeeper, Antonin Kinsky, who made crucial saves to keep the team in the game. His quick reactions prevented Adam Armstrong from scoring, and later, Kinsky produced a stunning one-hand save to deny Joao Gomes’ free-kick.
A Fight for Survival
De Zerbi remained optimistic about Tottenham’s chances of avoiding relegation. “When I knew better my players, I understood we have the possibility and the chance to stay up. We have two points (from safety),” he said. “Not 10 points, we have two points from West Ham. They are a good team, but also Tottenham have very good players and are a very good team.”
Wolves, who had already been confirmed as relegated, put in a spirited performance, and their manager, Rob Edwards, praised the team’s efforts. “It’s been really hard this week. The final nail in the coffin and relegated. Maybe other teams would have gone under and they might have been a shambles, it wasn’t that,” Edwards said. “It was a proper game of football but we’ve lost it. So there will be people that say what they want to say, but those boys that were out there gave everything.”
Looking Ahead
As the season progresses, Tottenham will need to manage their injury crisis and maintain their momentum. With De Zerbi at the helm, the focus remains on building a resilient team capable of competing in the Premier League. Fans will be hoping for a strong finish to the campaign, with the manager’s positive outlook providing a glimmer of hope.
The journey ahead is uncertain, but with determination and a united squad, Tottenham has the potential to turn things around. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether the team can secure their place in the top flight.
