The arguments, though, continued after the final whistle, led by substitute James Maddison.
But the real frustration will come from the fact Spurs had the opportunity to banish all relegation fears here and were simply not good enough to take advantage.
They were up against a Chelsea side who had played a strength-sapping Wembley FA Cup final against Manchester City on Saturday, suffering the psychological blow of a narrow defeat.
If Spurs had won, all worries were over. A point would also have effectively guaranteed safety.
It was almost as if it took Chelsea’s second goal to actually make them aware of the trouble they were in, such was their lackadaisical approach until then.
The late flurry was exactly that. Too late.
De Zerbi knows a point will still spare this giant, dysfunctional football club the ultimate embarrassment of a drop into the the second tier for the first time since 1977 – but can Spurs be trusted to deliver?
They have not won a home league game since beating Brentford on 6 December under the leadership of Thomas Frank, whose managerial reign seems an age ago.
This loss at Stamford Bridge was their 17th of the season in the league, while they lost 22 in the previous campaign under Ange Postecoglou, despite winning the Europa League and finishing fourth from bottom.
In other words – this trouble has not just crept up on Spurs. They flirted with danger last term and survived. This time they may not be so lucky.
