Spurs travel across London on Saturday after beating Coventry City 3-1 to secure their first Premier League victory of the season. De Zerbi’s team had also fought back with 10 men to earn a point against Manchester United the previous weekend.
The manager knows the challenge awaiting them, with Chelsea having been a difficult opponent on home soil for Tottenham. However, he sees the historical record as an opportunity to motivate his players rather than a reason for concern.
“I think it's not just this negative record. There are many, many negative records, but for me it's one motivation more,” De Zerbi said.
“For the players, I want this negative record, they give us more motivation, more mentality, more energy to win a game, to play a good game. Because we have the qualities enough to win a game, this game.”
De Zerbi also stressed that individual talent would not be enough against a Chelsea side he considers well coached and tactically organised.
“The level of the players is high, we have to show together as a team, not as an individual,” he said.
The Italian confirmed that Pedro Porro is available again, while Andy Robertson, Omar Marmoush and Dominic Solanke are also fit. Destiny Udogie, Lucas Bergvall and Savio remain unavailable, and Rodrigo Bentancur is suspended.
James Maddison remains a doubt after missing the first three days of training following his first competitive start in almost 18 months. Dejan Kulusevski’s involvement is also uncertain after his return against Coventry.
“I don't want to take risks, because if you analyse this period of European football, you can see many injuries, not just for Tottenham, for everyone,” De Zerbi said.
He added that the team could adapt its formation according to Chelsea’s approach, switching between three and four defenders depending on whether the match became more open or required greater control.
De Zerbi also rejected the idea that Tottenham should fear the occasion, insisting the history of the fixture should bring motivation rather than pressure.
“We have to keep the focus, keep the eyes on the ball, on our game, on our plan, our mentality and our energy and stop,” he said.
For Spurs, the challenge is to turn their improved performances into another result, with De Zerbi demanding courage, discipline and a collective response at Stamford Bridge.