Tottenham's 1-1 draw with Leeds has left Roberto De Zerbi fuming, and for good reason. The Italian manager's temper boiled over as his side failed to capitalise on West Ham's loss to Arsenal, missing the chance to open up a significant four-point advantage going into the final two games of the season. De Zerbi's frustration was palpable, and it's easy to see why. After a relatively low-key start to his Spurs career, De Zerbi's team had been on a roll, with vital wins away at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa. But against Leeds, they self-destructed, with De Zerbi's own erratic moments adding fuel to the fire. The Italian's combustible temperament bubbled throughout the game, from jumping up and down in disgust at slow play to incurring the wrath of the referee for repeatedly leaving his technical area. The night ended with a yellow card and 13 minutes of added time, increasing the unbearable tension around the stadium. De Zerbi's body language screamed frustration, and it's hard not to feel for the manager. Personally, I think De Zerbi's frustration is a symptom of a deeper issue: the pressure of being in a crucial game at a crucial part of the season. The Italian's players suffered too much under this pressure, making too many mistakes and failing to capitalise on their opportunities. What makes this particularly fascinating is the contrast between De Zerbi's early low-key presence at Spurs and his current combustible temperament. It raises a deeper question: how do managers adapt to the pressures of a high-stakes season? One thing that immediately stands out is the role of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). While it confirmed what everyone in the stadium already knew, De Zerbi's reaction suggests that the technology is still a source of frustration for managers. What many people don't realise is that the VAR is not just a tool for officials; it's also a source of stress for managers like De Zerbi. If you take a step back and think about it, the VAR is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it helps to ensure fair play and accuracy in decision-making. On the other hand, it can be a source of delay and uncertainty, which can be particularly frustrating for managers in high-pressure situations. This raises a deeper question: how can we balance the need for fairness and accuracy with the need for speed and efficiency in football? A detail that I find especially interesting is the impact of pressure on players' performance. De Zerbi's players suffered too much under pressure, making too many mistakes and failing to capitalise on their opportunities. This suggests that pressure can have a significant impact on players' performance, and that managers need to be aware of this when making tactical decisions. What this really suggests is that the pressure of being in a crucial game at a crucial part of the season can have a significant impact on players' performance. Managers need to be aware of this and take steps to mitigate the impact of pressure on their players. In my opinion, this is a critical issue that needs to be addressed if managers are to be successful in high-pressure situations. One player who deserved a hug and a kiss from De Zerbi was goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, whose redemption arc from the trauma of being taken off after 17 minutes of the Champions League last-16 first leg at Atletico Madrid continued. Kinsky made two superb saves, one from Joe Rodon's header in the first half, and another that preserved a point when he showed stunning reflexes to turn Sean Longstaff's stoppage-time shot on to the bar. They could just turn out to be the saves that keep Spurs in the Premier League. And that fight now looks likely to go to the final game of the season. If West Ham can win at Newcastle United on Sunday evening, Spurs will be back in the bottom three when they travel to Chelsea for their next game on 19 May. The Blues would take ghoulish delight in prolonging their agony to a final game at home to Everton. If it does go to the last game, Spurs will have to reverse a worrying trend as their last home win in the Premier League was against Brentford in December, drawing their last two under De Zerbi against Brighton then here against Leeds. In desperation to snatch a winner, De Zerbi sent on James Maddison for his first action since sustaining a serious knee injury in pre-season. He looked lively, feeling he had won a penalty when he went down under challenge from Lukas Nmecha, but the Leeds player got a touch on the ball first. De Zerbi's body language - not exactly difficult to read - screamed frustration. It was echoed by everyone of a Spurs persuasion and life is unlikely to get any easier as their battle to avoid an embarrassing drop into the Championship now looks like it could go to the final day of this turbulent, chaotic season.
