De Zebri felt the referee Jarred Gillet was \u201cnot calm\u201d during the 1-1 draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which featured yet more drama a day after West Ham saw a last-minute equaliser ruled out in the \u201cbiggest decision in VAR history\u201d. <\/p>\n
After giving Spurs the lead with a fine finish, Mathys Tel\u2019s attempted overhead kick clearance struck Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu in the face, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring from the spot. Then, in the 13th minute of stoppage time, James Maddison went down in the box but VAR deemed Lukas Nmecha played the ball. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think they were not calm today, maybe they suffered the pressure of yesterday’s Arsenal game,\u201d De Zerbi said when asked about the decisions from the officials<\/a>. \u201cFor sure we suffered the pressure today. We didn’t play with passion with the ball, too frenetic but also the referee was not calm today.\u201d <\/p>\n Spurs were bidding to move four points clear of West Ham with two games to go, but are now just two points clear of the Hammers ahead of their final two games of the season<\/a>: an away trip to Chelsea and a home game against Everton on the final day. West Ham, meanwhile, go to Newcastle and then host Leeds. <\/p>\n Tottenham v Leeds – live updates<\/a>Chelsea v Tottenham, Battle of the Bridge: Part II <\/p>\n Ten years on from the Battle of the Bridge, the infamous night at Stamford Bridge where Chelsea denied Tottenham the title in an tempered game, Spurs will go to their London rivals on Tuesday bidding to claim the win that secures their Premier League status. <\/p>\n Depending on West Ham\u2019s result at Newcastle on Sunday, Spurs could confirm their survival with a win or draw. Or, if West Ham win at St James\u2019, Tottenham may find themselves heading to Stamford Bridge needing to win to get out of the bottom three… <\/p>\n Jamie Braidwood12 May 2026 08:41<\/p>\n <\/a>Is relegation battle going down to the final day? De Zerbi expects so<\/p>\n If West Ham beat Newcastle on Sunday, it will pile the pressure on Tottenham ahead of a meeting with Chelsea in midweek. Equally, though, a defeat at St James\u2019 Park would allow Spurs to secure safety with a game to spare. <\/p>\n \u201cI think we are in the right way,\u201d De Zerbi said. \u201cIt will be tough until the last minute against Everton, for sure. <\/p>\n \u201cBut after the Sunderland game, it was a difficult to imagine ourselves before the last two games to stay up two points of West Ham.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember very well the game in Sunderland was my first game and we can\u2019t forget what was the situation just 15 days ago. We can\u2019t forget after four games in a row we made eight points.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd West Ham they have to also play Leeds at home. I think Leeds they will play like today with the same spirit, with the same qualities.\u201d<\/p>\n Jamie Braidwood12 May 2026 08:21<\/p>\n <\/a>Spurs draw offers West Ham lifeline in relegation fight <\/p>\n Tottenham Hotspur<\/strong><\/p>\n Position: 17th | Played: 36 | Points: 38 | GD: -9<\/p>\n West Ham United<\/strong><\/p>\n Position: 18th | Played: 36 | Points: 36 | GD: -20<\/p>\n Jamie Braidwood12 May 2026 08:06<\/p>\n <\/a>‘Save of the season!’: Will Kinsky rescue Tottenham from relegation? <\/p>\n Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky could have a remarkable redemption this season after his save rescued a point for Spurs by denying Sean Longstaff at the death. <\/p>\n Kinsky, humiliated by Igor Tudor in the defeat at Atletico Madrid, made a stunning reflex stop to tip Longstaff\u2019s near-post shot onto the bar in stoppage time. <\/p>\n \u201cThe save from Kinsky onto the bar from Longstaff is one of the saves of the season,\u201d Jamie Carragher said on Sky Sports. <\/p>\n “The two saves he made, one in the first half, one in the second half, have made sure his team has got what could be a vital point.<\/p>\n “The only save that I can think that made me go ‘Wow’ was Jordan Pickford at Newcastle. That is certainly up there.\u201d<\/p>\n Jamie Braidwood12 May 2026 07:53<\/p>\n <\/a>Nmecha ‘played the ball’ in last-minute Tottenham penalty claim<\/p>\n Roberto De Zerbi did not want to be drawn on another late penalty incident after the returning James Maddison went down in the box under the challenge of Leeds defender Lukas Nmecha. <\/p>\n The incident was checked by VAR and quickly waved away. <\/p>\n The Premier League Match Centre said: \u201cThe referee\u2019s call of no penalty to Tottenham Hotspur was checked and confirmed by VAR \u2013 with it deemed that Nmecha played the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n De Zerbi did praise Maddison\u2019s impact as the midfielder made his first competitive appearance in 12 months following injury. \u201cGreat news for us. He is a different player as a quality, as a guy and he will be I hope crucial for us,\u201d De Zerbi said.<\/p>\n Jamie Braidwood12 May 2026 07:49<\/p>\n <\/a>Roberto De Zerbi backs Mathys Tel after conceding second-half penalty<\/p>\n Roberto De Zerbi said he would support Mathys Tel with a \u201ckiss and a hug\u201d after the Tottenham forward conceded a penalty with a high foot. Having scored a sensational opening goal, Tel went from hero to zero when he caught Ethan Ampadu while attempting an overhead kick. <\/p>\n But the young winger will be needed if Tottenham are to get themselves out of relegation trouble, and De Zerbi said: \u201cA big hug and a big kiss. Nothing more because he is a young player, he is a big talent and he score a great goal.<\/p>\n \u201cHe made a mistake for the experience because he has not the right experience and he has not played too many games in his career and we have to accept, but I am proud and I am happy for the mentality we show.\u201d<\/p>\n Jamie Braidwood12 May 2026 07:43<\/p>\n <\/a>Leeds reveal Ampadu\u2019s injury after Tel’s ‘crazy’ overhead kick <\/p>\n Leeds have posted a picture revealing a small cut to Ethan Ampadu\u2019s head after the captain was caught by Mathys Tel\u2019s high foot in the incident that led to the visitors receiving a second-half penalty. <\/p>\n Although accidental, Tel was ruled to have committed a foul on Ampadu due to the high foot. On Sky Sports, Jamie Carragher said it was a \u201ccrazy decision\u201d to attempt the overhead kick. <\/p>\n “De Zerbi will be furious – but he’s got to remember he’s a young attacking player who has actually made a massive difference to Spurs right now.<\/p>\n “He came off the bench at Wolves, got the corner and the winning goal. He set up the second goal at Villa, and he scored the goal tonight.<\/p>\n “He needs him, because they haven’t got players with injuries but there’s a player there. We’ve seen that in the last couple of games.\u201d<\/p>\n Jamie Braidwood12 May 2026 07:38<\/p>\n <\/a>Roberto De Zerbi feels officials ‘suffered the pressure’ of West Ham-Arsenal controversy<\/p>\n Roberto De Zerbi on the match officials following his side\u2019s 1-1 draw against Leeds. <\/p>\n \u201cThe first minute until the end of the game the referee went to me, \u2018if you go out, yellow card,\u2019 and I think they were not calm today. Maybe they suffered the pressure of yesterday the West Ham-Arsenal game and VAR.<\/p>\n “For sure we suffered the pressure today. We didn’t play with passion with the ball, too frenetic but also the referee was not calm today.\u201d<\/p>\n Jamie Braidwood12 May 2026 07:34<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/625949696.jpg\")
(Getty)<\/p>\n\n
\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2026-05-11T210849Z_1324378427_UP1EM5B1MQNNL_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-TOT-LEE.jpg\")
(Reuters)<\/p>\n![\"James](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2275673497.jpg\")
James Maddison appealed for a penalty but it was deemed Lukas Nmecha ‘played the ball’ (Getty)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2275663347.jpg\")
(Getty)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2e3440874a4dcb74e1f4e610984ba7ecY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzc4NjI2MzQw-2.84585918.jpg\")
(PA Wire)<\/p>\n