Key Points
- Tottenham Hotspur legend Gareth Bale has defended head coach Roberto De Zerbi amidst growing media scrutiny following a sluggish start to the 2026/27 campaign.
- Spurs suffered a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool in the third round of the League Cup at Anfield, extending their early-season struggles across domestic competitions.
- De Zerbi’s squad had failed to score in their opening four Premier League fixtures of the 2026/27 season prior to Conor Gallagher’s consolation goal against Liverpool.
- Despite heavy summer transfer expenditure, Tottenham currently reside near the bottom of the Premier League table without a league win.
- Speaking via The Spurs Watch, Bale insisted that the Italian manager retains the trust of the club and that performance levels are showing noticeable improvements.
Tottenham Hotspur (North London News) September 17, 2026 — Former Tottenham Hotspur winger Gareth Bale has offered a public defence of manager Roberto De Zerbi, arguing that the Italian coach retains the trust of the club and requires time to integrate new summer signings following intense media scrutiny.
As reported by The Spurs Watch, Bale addressed the ongoing narrative surrounding Tottenham Hotspur’s slow opening to the 2026/27 season, stating:
“Will Tottenham be okay moving forward? Yeah, I think so. A lot of new signings. Sometimes it takes time to settle in. The manager has shown he is capable of playing good football. I think he still has the trust of everybody”.
Bale’s comments arrive in the wake of Tottenham’s 3-1 exit from the third round of the League Cup against Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday evening. Goals from Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo, and Dominik Szoboszlai sealed victory for the hosts, while Conor Gallagher scored Tottenham’s lone goal in the 69th minute.
As reported by Archie Griggs of Express Sport, Tottenham Hotspur have endured a difficult opening to the domestic campaign, failing to secure a victory or score a single goal across their opening four Premier League matches. The club’s only competitive win this season occurred in the second round of the League Cup against second-tier Charlton Athletic.
The team’s start follows substantial recruitment in the summer transfer window, during which Tottenham added players including Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Sávio, Jan Paul van Hecke, and Tosin Adarabioyo.
Speaking after the defeat at Anfield, as reported by The Daily Star, Roberto De Zerbi addressed the squad’s performance and accepted responsibility for the recent results:
“We have to shoot more times, we have to shoot better, but we are sorry for the result, disappointed, frustrated for the result. I think, unfair, but we have to accept and to be stronger than this unlucky moment”.
De Zerbi further stated to reporters:
“I’m honest with myself and I’m honest with you. I think in these five, six games, we have been for sure not lucky with Newcastle, with Everton, even with Nottingham and tonight as well… I’m sorry, and it’s my responsibility. Because maybe in the middle of the first half we didn’t recognise the clear situation man-to-man. It’s a tough moment, but we have to be stronger to prepare our best for the next game with Villa and to find this click”.
Background to Tottenham Hotspur’s current managerial situation
Roberto De Zerbi took charge of Tottenham Hotspur during the latter stages of the 2025/26 season, successfully guiding the club through a relegation battle to retain its top-flight status on the final day of the campaign.
Following the conclusion of the previous season, the Tottenham Hotspur hierarchy sanctioned a significant transfer expenditure exceeding £200 million to overhaul the first-team squad ahead of the 2026/27 campaign. Despite these additions, Tottenham entered mid-September without a league victory, recording two draws and two defeats in their opening four Premier League fixtures while failing to score a goal.
The early-season goal drought marked one of the slowest statistical starts in the club’s modern history across top-flight domestic competition. Former Tottenham goalkeeper Brad Friedel also noted in comments to Tribal Football that squad integration following major financial outlay often presents tactical challenges during the opening weeks of a new campaign.
Prediction: How this development affects Tottenham Hotspur supporters and stakeholders
Public support from prominent club figures such as Gareth Bale may offer temporary stability for Roberto De Zerbi, reducing immediate external pressure from the fanbase and media environment. For Tottenham Hotspur supporters, high-profile backing reinforces a message of patience as the coaching staff works to integrate new signings into a cohesive tactical system.
However, the team’s upcoming domestic fixtures remain critical to determining short-term stability. Should results fail to improve in the Premier League, scrutiny regarding team selection and offensive productivity is likely to persist. For the club’s board and leadership, maintaining confidence in the long-term project will depend on translating performance indicators into positive league results in the coming weeks.
