Former Tottenham star Edgar Davids on Tuesday told AFP that the fallen London giant will find it hard to avoid relegation and condemned “a lack of quality and a lack of management”.

Tottenham is on its third manager of a disastrous season and sits in the Premier League relegation zone, two points adrift of safety with five matches left.

Former Netherlands international midfielder Davids said the appointment of Italian coach Roberto De Zerbi three weeks ago was a good move, but fears for Spurs’ Premier League future.

Asked by AFP how Tottenham had ended up in such a predicament, Davids said, “It’s very obvious, if you pay peanuts, you get… It’s a lack of quality and a lack of management. Everything.”

Davids, who played for Spurs in 2005-2006 after starring for Ajax, AC Milan, Juventus, Barcelona and Inter Milan, said Spurs should have strengthened an injury-hit squad in the winter transfer window.

“I hope they stay up, I think it’s a very good thing they got in De Zerbi,” said the 53-year-old, speaking at the announcement of the “Hong Kong Football Festival” featuring Manchester City, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Juventus in August.

“But it’s hard. They should have done big things in the winter period to get some players in. It was obvious.”

Tottenham, which has not won in the league since late December, travels to already-relegated Wolves on Saturday.

Published on Apr 21, 2026