Key Points
- Tottenham Hotspur head coach Roberto De Zerbi has scheduled an immediate mid-season training camp and team-bonding trip to Marbella, Spain, directly following their Premier League encounter against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
- The decision comes as Spurs occupy the bottom position in the Premier League table, having collected just two points from their opening five domestic league matches.
- The excursion takes advantage of a nine-day gap between their clash against Manchester United and their next Premier League fixture at home to Coventry City on 19 October.
- De Zerbi aims to integrate several late summer transfer window arrivals, including Savinho, Tosin Adarabioyo, Mykhailo Mudryk, and Omar Marmoush, who have had limited time to train together as a squad.
- Similar unconventional mid-season sporting retreats were previously utilised by De Zerbi during his tenure at Olympique de Marseille, where a team trip to Rome in April 2025 yielded a four-match unbeaten run to close out their domestic campaign.
Tottenham Hotspur (North London News) October 10, 2026 — Tottenham Hotspur head coach Roberto De Zerbi has taken the unconventional step of ordering his entire squad to fly directly to Marbella, Spain, immediately following their Premier League encounter against Manchester United at Old Trafford. The emergency warm-weather retreat is aimed at fostering team unity and rebuilding confidence amidst a troubling start to the 2026/27 domestic campaign.
Why Has Roberto De Zerbi Taken Tottenham Hotspur To Marbella?
As reported by Sami Mokbel of BBC Sport, Tottenham Hotspur will depart for southern Spain immediately after their match in Manchester to spend key days in a dedicated training facility. The decision follows a dismal opening run of results that has left the North London club rock bottom of the Premier League standings with just two points from a possible fifteen.
The squad has struggled to integrate multiple late-window transfer signings who joined the club in the final days of the summer window. According to reporting by French news outlet L’Équipe and verified by BBC Sport, key late additions such as Savinho, Tosin Adarabioyo, Mykhailo Mudryk, and Omar Marmoush have lacked extended tactical preparation and social bonding time with the core group due to a congested schedule and international fixture interruptions.
With forecast temperatures reaching 25°C in Marbella compared to rain in London, De Zerbi identified a nine-day gap before Tottenham’s home match against Coventry City on 19 October as an ideal window for intensive tactical sessions and private discussions away from domestic media scrutiny.
Has Roberto De Zerbi Used Team Retreats To Turn Around Form In The Past?
As reported by Goal.com and The Chosun Daily, this measure is not without precedent in De Zerbi’s managerial career. During his tenure at Ligue 1 club Olympique de Marseille in April 2025, the Italian coach organised a mid-season sporting retreat to Rome, Italy, to address a steep decline in team performance.
The Rome training camp proved successful. Marseille closed out that domestic season on a four-match unbeaten streak (three wins and one draw), securing crucial points that propelled the club into a top-two finish and UEFA Champions League qualification. De Zerbi is seeking a similar psychological and tactical response from his Tottenham squad as they navigate their current domestic struggles.
Speaking on squad morale in recent media interactions ahead of the Manchester United fixture, De Zerbi emphasized the psychological aspect of his managerial role:
“My work is not so much on the pitch, they are good guys… They don’t need to improve football. They need confidence. Once we are able to win a game, everything will change”.
As reported by Kieran Horn of Football.London, De Zerbi confirmed that while Dejan Kulusevski remains sidelined due to injury, he travelled to Manchester with the team as a leadership presence. De Zerbi stated that
“Dejan Kulusevski… is an example for everyone… the example of how he reacted to the injury, the reaction to being unlucky, the character he showed this time, was an example, a reference for everyone”.
Furthermore, defenders Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke are available for selection despite minor international duty concerns and personal milestones.
Background Of The Particular Development
Tottenham Hotspur entered the 2026/27 season following a period of structural transition. Despite securing continental success by lifting the UEFA Europa League trophy during the previous campaign, the club’s domestic trajectory has proven unstable.
The off-season saw significant roster turnover, concluding with several high-profile additions late in the window. However, back-to-back international breaks in early autumn, combined with an intense match schedule, restricted opportunities for full-squad training sessions. Consequently, Spurs failed to record a single victory in their opening five Premier League fixtures, leading to heightened pressure on the managerial staff.
How This Development Can Affect Tottenham Hotspur Supporters And Stakeholders
This emergency training camp directly impacts multiple stakeholders connected to Tottenham Hotspur, primarily the club’s supporter base, technical staff, and corporate board:
- Supporters and Matchday Fans: For the fanbase, the decision highlights the urgency with which the club is treating its position at the bottom of the table. Supporters expecting immediate domestic improvement after last season’s European title will be monitoring whether this Spanish retreat yields improved tactical co-ordination and defensive discipline against Coventry City.
- First-Team Players and New Signings: The away trip forces continuous contact between established squad members and newly arrived players like Mudryk, Marmoush, and Savinho. Accelerated team bonding away from local distractions could resolve lingering communication issues on the pitch.
- Club Leadership and Management: For Roberto De Zerbi and the Spurs executive board, the success of this retreat carries significant stakes. A turnaround in form following the Marbella camp would validate De Zerbi’s management methods, whereas continued poor performance could heighten scrutiny surrounding managerial stability early in the season.
