Bentancur credits De Zerbi for transforming Spurs' outlook ahead of huge Leeds clash

Rodrigo Bentancur believes Roberto De Zerbi has already succeeded in transforming the mood at Tottenham, who can take a huge step towards survival against Leeds United on Monday.

Following West Ham's dramatic 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday, Spurs have an opportunity to pull four points clear of the relegation zone with two games remaining.

De Zerbi's team beat an under-strength Aston Villa side 2-1 last time out, making it back-to-back wins after a narrow 1-0 success against relegated Wolves.

The Opta supercomputer now assigns Spurs just a 12.3% chance of relegation, with 87.7% of season simulations seeing West Ham finish 18th.

De Zerbi joined Spurs when they were on a 15-game winless run in the Premier League, failing to taste victory between December 28 and April 25, and Bentancur has been deeply impressed by the Italian's work.

"We understand the situation, and now, after you get back to winning games, the energy changes a lot, and we feel really good," Bentancur told the club's website.

"Roberto has tried to work in a positive mentality and positive aspects. He said, 'You guys play really good, now we need to start to play again', so we've worked like this.

"He works really well in the tactical aspect, and then, with the ball, he is amazing. 

"We try to take what we work on in the week to do the same in the game, and I think the last game against Villa, we showed how we want to play. We want to continue with this."

West Ham's defeat to Arsenal also ensured Leeds will be in the Premier League next season, but Daniel Farke's assistant Edmund Riemer still wants them to finish strongly.

Reimer told reporters: "I think it will be a huge test, in terms of Spurs, they will go for it. 

"I know the manager managed to get them out of the relegation places, so we are fully aware that we need to be up for it, and we want to maintain our top form.

"This is the best form we have been in throughout the season now, and we want to finish the season on a high."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Tottenham – Richarlison  

Across the last three seasons, Richarlison has scored or assisted – on average – every 109 minutes in the Premier League (25 goals, nine assists). 

Among players with 3,000+ minutes in that time, only Mohamed Salah (goal/assist every 91 mins), Erling Haaland (91) and Alexander Isak (102) have done so at a more frequent rate.

Leeds United – Noah Okafor 

Among players to play 200+ Premier League minutes since the start of February, Leeds forward Okafor has the best minutes-per-goal ratio, netting six goals in just 408 minutes (one every 68 minutes).

MATCH PREDICTION – TOTTENHAM WIN

Spurs have won eight of their last nine Premier League games against Leeds, including the last five in a row since a 3-1 loss to Marcelo Bielsa's team in May 2021.

And, following victories over Wolves and Aston Villa, they are looking to win three consecutive Premier League games for the first time since February 2025.

In their four games under De Zerbi, Spurs have won possession in the final third 5.3 times per game on average. 

That is the most of any manager with four or more games at a single club in the Premier League this season, and much higher than they managed under both Thomas Frank (3.7) and Igor Tudor (3.8).

Home advantage makes them favourites, though things may not be completely straightforward against Farke's side. 

Since the start of December, only six teams have picked up more Premier League points than Leeds (32), and only Manchester City (one), Manchester United and Bournemouth (both three) have lost fewer games than their four.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Tottenham – 51.5%

Leeds United – 26.5%

Draw – 22%