Neville: Tottenham Players Must Apologise to Fans After Scraping Premier League Survival

Gary Neville has demanded that Tottenham's squad offer a public apology to their long-suffering fans following what he branded a humiliating campaign that nearly ended in the unthinkable.

Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League for the second consecutive season, though this time the circumstances were considerably more alarming. Whereas last year's slide came late in the campaign, this season saw the North London outfit flirting dangerously with the drop zone for weeks before clawing their way to safety.

Roberto De Zerbi's appointment for the final seven matches proved transformative. The Italian manager's side won three games and drew two, ultimately securing survival with a 1-0 victory over Everton on the final day—Joao Palhinha's scrappy finish doing the job when it mattered most. With West Ham also claiming victory but already sitting two points adrift, Tottenham held firm in 17th while their rivals headed for the Championship.

Speaking from the Sky Sports commentary box, Neville minced no words about what he expected to see next. He insisted the players who have "been an absolute disgrace" over the preceding three months should make their way around the stadium to acknowledge the supporters who have shown up week after week.

"Sixty-odd thousand fans come to this great ground and this great club, and they've been let down badly," Neville said. "Those players need to apologise en masse. At least now the club can reset in the summer—decide who stays, who goes—knowing they've got Premier League football to work with."

The immediate challenge for De Zerbi extends well beyond the relief of survival. He must now oversee a significant squad overhaul to ensure Tottenham never returns to the brink of catastrophe. Difficult decisions loom regarding current personnel, alongside the necessity of strengthening in key areas. For the fans heading home on Sunday evening, there will at least be Premier League football to look forward to next season.