De Zerbi wants 'top, top team' as Spurs swerve embarrassment of relegation

Spurs secure Premier League survival with win over Everton

Strains of the old "Glory, Glory" anthem echoed inside the giant stadium as Tottenham Hotspur stepped back from the precipice of the most humiliating relegation in Premier League history.

Spurs players and supporters were in unison at last as they could finally look forward to next season as a top-flight club, victory against Everton on the final day ensuring survival and sending West Ham United into the Championship.

Slowly, a note of dissent was introduced as a giant banner was unfurled by supporters, reading: "Promised Success. Delivering Failure. ENIC out."

The fans who have suffered so much mediocrity were entitled to their outpouring – after all, this was only the third home league win they have witnessed this season, albeit in arguably the club's biggest game in recent history.

For the Spurs players, the instant exuberance was understandable, but embarrassment should have quickly descended on them as they listened to their supporters chanting "We Are Staying Up".

The very sound of those words, the preserve of strugglers, should reverberate through the whole club. Once Tottenham High Road empties of its revellers, the inquest from top to bottom must begin.

Roberto de Zerbi rescued Tottenham after the failed reigns of Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor

The fist-pumping defiance from those who have performed so poorly, with Spurs finishing 17th for the second successive season, could have been avoided had they pitched up and performed earlier in this wretched campaign.

Spurs had been warned. Cracks were covered up by last season's Europa League win, which was followed by Ange Postecoglou's sacking, but they were soon exposed once more when this season begin.

The club's top brass were in attendance for the conclusion – whatever it held – with chief executive Vinai Venkatesham front of house and sporting director Johan Lange sitting just behind.

Their part in all of this will come under scrutiny, not least for their remarkable decision to trust the ill-suited Igor Tudor as successor to Thomas Frank.

Frank had been sacked after eight months. Tudor was out of the door in 44 days following five defeats in seven games.

Fans protested against owners ENIC after Spurs guaranteed Premier League survival with victory against Everton

This brings us to the move they did get right, which was to persuade Roberto de Zerbi to arrive in an emergency act before the end of the season, rather than wait to see what division Spurs were in before making a commitment.

De Zerbi, by his own admission, has had to be as much a psychologist as coach to coax Spurs to survival. He has done so and deserves credit, with away wins at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa, plus this tension-riddled win against Everton, enough to get them over the line.

This celebratory end to a season was also watched by Vivienne Lewis, representing the family who own Spurs, along with her son-in-law Nick Beucher, a key contact with the London-based management.

Non-executive chairman Peter Charrington and chief operating and finance officer Matthew Collecott were also in attendance, presumably poised to work out how and why Spurs have found themselves in such reduced circumstances and how it can be avoided next season.

At least they were spared the pain of seeing Spurs relegated on the day when north London arch-rivals Arsenal were lifting the trophy after their first Premier League title in 22 years. Arsenal's party was taking place across the capital at Crystal Palace.

For now, thanks to De Zerbi's inspiration and the failings of other clubs, Spurs are spared a day of reckoning. Not for long, however, because the temporary elation of fans will soon turn to anger.

How can a club that plays in such a magnificent stadium, has such passionate support and received around £74m by qualifying for the Champions League via that Europa League triumph, end up on the brink of the Championship?

Answer – bad decisions on and off the pitch. Poor appointments. Players playing poorly. At times this season, Spurs have resembled an unmotivated rabble – which is why the frantic pumping of fists and wild celebrations also felt uncomfortable and, yes, embarrassing.

The work must start now, but at least they will have De Zerbi to lead.

The Italian at least realised the urgency of the situation when he said: "It's now around 7pm, and around 8pm or 9pm we will start working towards next season."

I'm very happy, I'm very delighted - De Zerbi