Roberto De Zerbi says Tottenham played 'with the right mentality' in Leeds draw

It may not have been the win that they wanted, but Tottenham Hotspur moved a point closer to safety after fighting to a 1-1 draw with visiting Leeds United on Monday.

Spurs are embroiled in a bitter relegation battle with West Ham United, and the end of the season will see one of those two London clubs dropped from the Premier League. Thanks to Monday's draw, Tottenham are now two points clear of the Hammers with two matches left to play, but Spurs will have walked away from the match feeling like they let two points slip away after taking a 50th-minute lead that was nullified by Dominic Calvert-Lewin's successful penalty kick in the 74th minute.

All in all, it was a tough pill to swallow for Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi, although he did laud the character of his players against an in-form Leeds side.  

"We didn't play a great game. We played a good game," De Zerbi told the BBC. "I think we deserved to win anyway but maybe the pressure, the crucial game, the crucial part of the season, we suffered too much.

"Anyway I am happy because I watched my players with the right spirit, with the right mentality."

Where it went wrong for De Zerbi was after Mathys Tel's opening goal, as Leeds piled on the pressure in an attempt to prolong their six-match unbeaten streak. Tel, who was the hero at one end of the pitch, committed the foul at the other end that led to Calvert-Lewin's equalizer.

It was moments like that which ultimately denied Spurs the victory, De Zerbi said.

"We made too many mistakes," he explained. "If we want to win we have to reduce the mistakes, but we know before this game it will be tough until the end of the season, until the last game.

"It is tough for us and tough for everyone."

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