Key Points
- The manager of Tottenham Hotspur, Roberto De Zerbi, is going through his first serious criticism after failing to register any wins or goals in the early days of the 2026/27 season of the Premier League.
- The team has suffered losses against Brentford and Newcastle United before ending up in a 0-0 draw with Nottingham Forest.
- This comes after a summer spending of about £313 million to £380 million in buying players with some players also sold out.
- After suffering a 2-0 loss against Newcastle United, De Zerbi stated that the “right mentality” and balancing of the team is his greatest challenge and objective.
- Some high-profile summer signings include midfielders Sandro Tonali, who was bought for an initial sum of £92.5 million, as well as other players from Manchester City including Sávio and Omar Marmoush.
- The Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi stated that Richarlison and Kevin Danso, two forwards, requested transfers from the club.
North London (North London News) September 10, 2026 – Tottenham Hotspur boss Roberto De Zerbi gathered the few points needed to keep the team in the Premier League after he was appointed near the end of last season, but the 2026/27 campaign has got off to a miserable start. Spurs find themselves winless and goalless after their first three Premier League matches. Defeats against Brentford and Newcastle United preceded a frustrating 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest. After spending a reported £313 million on new signings in the summer transfer window—albeit offset by some significant sales—it has been an alarming return to the kind of results that dragged Spurs into relegation trouble during the previous campaign.
As reported by Paul MacInnes of The Guardian, Roberto De Zerbi admitted that his biggest challenge for his Tottenham team will be to find “the right mentality,” as they fell to a second consecutive defeat at the start of the season against Matthias Jaissle’s Newcastle United. Spurs were beaten after fading in the second half of the match despite dominating large parts of the opening period. As noted by Saurabh Kumar of India Today, the pressure surrounding Tottenham’s massive expenditure was impossible to ignore, with five of their eight summer signings starting against Newcastle, including Omar Marmoush, who joined from Manchester City.
Discussing the core issues plaguing the squad, Roberto De Zerbi stated that
“It’s the biggest problem, it’s the biggest challenge and the biggest target is to find the right mentality”.
Elaborating further on the complexities of squad building, Roberto De Zerbi added that
“You can’t find the right mentality in the transfer market. Football is a magical thing, you can change a lot of players and you can find the balance immediately or you need more time. I want to achieve this target as soon as possible… but I am in no doubt that we will reach it”.
How Have High-Profile Signings and Squad Unrest Complicated Roberto De Zerbi’s Task?
The heavy investment has cast an intense spotlight on individual performances, particularly regarding marquee additions. Sandro Tonali, who arrived as a statement signing with an initial £92.5 million price tag, has faced immediate scrutiny. During the match against Newcastle, Tonali was targeted by former supporters who booed his every touch and cheered when he was substituted shortly after Spurs conceded the opening goal, as highlighted by Paul MacInnes of The Guardian.
Defending his player amidst the hostile reception, Roberto De Zerbi stated that “Sandro is a crucial player that is not in the right, the best condition yet”. Emphasizing his support for the squad through this transitional phase, Roberto De Zerbi added that
“I love my players more today than if we had won. Because together we are rebuilding the club”.
Compounding matters on the pitch, off-field turbulence has emerged within the dressing room. Roberto De Zerbi revealed that forward Richarlison and defender Kevin Danso asked to leave the club following the arrivals of further acquisitions, including Sávio and Omar Marmoush. Addressing the unsettled players, Roberto De Zerbi stated that
“I love Danso and Richarlison, they are great guys but if they want to leave they have to bring the economic solution to the club and they can go and we find other players”.
Furthermore, addressing supporters after the initial defeats, Roberto De Zerbi maintained composure, stating that
“There is no panic. I know where we are going and what the plan is. I’m sorry for the fans for the result. We have to improve. We have to work hard on the pitch and find the connection between the players”.
While additions like Mykhailo Mudryk arriving on loan and other attacking options provide long-term hope, the immediate burden rests on Roberto De Zerbi to secure a victory and establish an effective tactical rhythm.
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Background of the Particular Development
The current crisis at Tottenham Hotspur stems from a turbulent transitional phase that began towards the end of the previous Premier League season, when Roberto De Zerbi was brought in to steer the club away from relegation danger. Although he successfully secured enough points to maintain their top-flight status, underlying structural issues remained unaddressed. During the subsequent summer transfer window, the club undertook a massive squad overhaul, injecting massive financial capital to sign several high-profile players—including Sandro Tonali, Omar Marmoush, and Sávio—while parting ways with various squad members. However, integrating a large influx of new personnel simultaneously often leads to a lack of cohesion, tactical unfamiliarity, and dressing room friction, which manifested immediately as the club failed to score or win in their opening fixtures of the 2026/27 campaign.
This difficult start to the season and the ongoing friction surrounding player departures could significantly increase pressure from the club’s hierarchy and fan base if results do not improve rapidly. For Tottenham Hotspur supporters and the club management, the immediate effect will likely be intensified scrutiny on Roberto De Zerbi’s tactical selections and his ability to manage a bloated squad of expensive acquisitions. If the team fails to convert their heavy financial investment into goals and victories over the upcoming fixtures, it may lead to accelerated dressing room instability, diminished player confidence, and heightened speculation regarding the manager’s long-term future at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Conversely, if Roberto De Zerbi successfully instils the required mentality and identifies his strongest tactical lineup, the influx of elite talent could eventually stabilize the club’s campaign and steer them back toward European contention.
