Gus Poyet feels the pressure on Tottenham Hotspur and Roberto De Zerbi has not entirely lifted despite registering their first league win of the season on Monday.

Tottenham finally managed to get the monkey off their back, becoming the last of the 20 Premier League sides to get a win on the board this season on their seventh attempt.

The result has seen Spurs move out of the relegation zone for the first time this term, with the Lilywhites moving up to 16th place.

Tottenham have jumped up to 13th in Opta’s predicted Premier League table after the latest result, and Roberto De Zerbi will be hoping that his side are able to build on that positive result when they travel to Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Gus Poyet says Tottenham cannot afford to finish in the bottom half this season

Former Spurs midfielder and assistant coach Gus Poyet believes that this campaign will be a transitional one for his former club after what transpired over the last two years.

However, he insisted that given the money the club have splurged on new signings in the summer, a top 10 finish is the minimum De Zerbi has to deliver.

When asked if Spurs can potentially make a run for Europe, Poyet told Gambling.com: “I think it’s too early. I wouldn’t commit to that. I think Spurs this year need to have a recovery season to get in the top half of the table, getting the identity from Roberto de Zerbi, getting stronger mentally as a group, not thinking always about the possibility of losing and going to the pitch thinking of the possibility of winning. So it’s a transition year.

“But obviously, with the money they spent, they need to be in the top 10 and if it’s possible getting a European competition. But I wouldn’t force from what happened in the last two years and the way they started this season to go now to top six or whatever. No, for me, I’m trying to be realistic. I’m always realistic and I try to be fair.”

Poyet insists even Spurs fans did not believe they were going to beat Coventry

Speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, Jamie Carragher pointed out that the Tottenham players and fans were extremely nervy on Monday night until Ben Davies’ third goal.

Poyet agreed with the Liverpool legend’s assessment, suggesting the majority of Spurs fans were expecting Frank Lampard’s men to equalise, given what transpired so far this term.

The Uruguayan added: “In the beginning of the season, it was difficult to predict because, OK, they spent a lot, they’ve got a very good coach and you would think, maybe. But then after seeing the first few games, even looking against Coventry, last 10 minutes, when they were winning 2-1, I would say to you, because I know the Spurs fans, 80% of the stadium was thinking, ‘we’re going to draw this game. 100%’. You can feel it.

“So when Davies scored somehow, because I don’t understand how he scored, it was like, ‘oh, thank you very much’. So they need to get rid of that and Coventry was the first step, which is important.”