Roberto De Zerbi has called for patience from supporters as Tottenham navigate a challenging start to the season. Following a staggering summer outlay exceeding £300m, Spurs have managed to secure only a single point from their first three Premier League fixtures, failing to score a goal along the way.
The lone point for the north London side came in a goalless draw against Nottingham Forest. While the result left much to be desired, De Zerbi believes there were signs of progress in his team's performance.
The Tottenham manager commented:
We've signed some very, very good players, but you can't just put together a team of names like it’s Football Manager.
We are disappointed with the result, but we are pleased with the performance. There’s a need for improvement in every area—both with the ball and without it. Defensively, I think we were solid.
We need to keep working. I believe we played well in possession, finding solutions, but we must be more effective in the final third.
De Zerbi also pointed out that his players lacked the right decision-making in crucial moments:
In the final third, we need to improve our decision-making and perhaps act with a bit more composure when we’re close to creating a dangerous opportunity.
I’m very happy with the attitude and organisation. To earn a point at this stadium is no easy feat. We’re not satisfied with not winning, but having the right mindset is important as we look forward.
Former Spurs midfielder Danny Murphy has identified a key issue as the lack of chemistry amongst new recruits.
The BBC Sport pundit noted:
When Tottenham found themselves in decent positions, players often rushed their shots instead of opting to pass. In terms of crosses or cutbacks, they made the wrong choices, sometimes trying to take on an extra defender instead of exploiting the space that had been created.
They seemed to lack the composure you’d expect from high-calibre players.
Some players need time to build that rapport. For instance, you could say Omar Marmoush and Savinho already have an understanding, whereas intelligent players quickly begin to read each other’s runs and movements.
When a midfielder plays with a new striker, they don’t always know what the latter intends to do. With time together, that understanding develops naturally. So, these connections will form as they continue to work together.
