"Yes, I confirm everything," the Italian said at his pre-match press conference on Saturday.
"For me it's still an honour to be a coach for Tottenham, even if we play for the relegation fight, it's not a problem. For sure, every one of us, we are playing for the future of Tottenham."
De Zerbi was appointed on a five-year deal in late March, becoming the club's third manager of a season that had already consumed Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor. He inherited a side in the relegation zone with 15 games without a win and has since picked up eight points from six matches, enough to move Spurs two points clear of West Ham United heading into the final day.
A point against Everton is sufficient to guarantee survival. Lose, and West Ham must beat Leeds United at the London Stadium to condemn Spurs to their first relegation since 1977 and a projected income loss of around £250 million.
De Zerbi has drawn a direct comparison between the magnitude of this match and last season's Europa League triumph, when Spurs beat Manchester United in the final in Bilbao.
"Sunday is the final for Tottenham — not in Bilbao against Manchester United, but this is the most important game," he said earlier this week. "We play for something more important than the trophy. The pride, the history of the club, the dignity are more important than the trophy. The trophy you can win, but the most important thing is to keep the dignity, to keep the pride."
On Saturday he went further.
"It's easier to play the final of the Europa League than to play Tottenham versus Everton, 100 per cent. As a pressure it's totally different. When you are fighting against relegation, the eyes of the players are not like the eyes of the players when you are winning a league or competing to achieve European qualification."
On managing the occasion: "The secret is to manage the pressure. To manage the pressure you have to be clear and honest with yourself. But we have enough quality. We play in our stadium. If for us it will be a tough game, it will be a tough game for West Ham too."
Defender Micky van de Ven, who has been outstanding since De Zerbi's arrival, will captain the side in the absence of Cristian Romero. The Argentine flew back to Buenos Aires to continue his rehabilitation from a knee injury in preparation for the World Cup — a decision that prompted condemnation from supporters and former players, including Glenn Hoddle.
Dominic Solanke, absent for three games with a hamstring problem, is available. Xavi Simons will not feature, having suffered a cruciate ligament injury.
"If we win this game there is another pride, another emotion, another feeling," De Zerbi said. "We have to be ready and strong."