Headline: Tottenham Manager Roberto De Zerbi Addresses Team’s Growing Pains After Loss to Brentford
Tottenham Hotspur’s manager Roberto De Zerbi acknowledged that his revamped squad still needs time to gel, as he discussed their recent 3-0 defeat against Brentford in the Premier League. The manager pointed out that three key players are yet to regain full fitness after the summer.
Despite a major summer transfer window that included the signing of Savinho, pushing their expenditure beyond £300 million, Tottenham faced a challenging start to the season, getting outplayed in their opening match.
“For many reasons, I think we are not a team yet,” De Zerbi stated. “We are not at the right point in physical condition. But there is no excuse. When you are building a new project, I don’t want time, but we have to endure these issues.”
De Zerbi expressed his belief in his players, emphasizing that while they are currently struggling, he sees potential for rapid improvement. “It’s a step we have to improve quickly. We should have fought harder today and lost too many duels. The objective is to become a cohesive team, to discover our spirit and soul, which is a process.”
In the match, De Zerbi gave debuts to five of the six new signings, but noted that Marcos Senesi, Jan Paul van Hecke, and Sandro Tonali are not in peak physical condition as they were recently involved in international competitions.
He elaborated on the team’s condition: “We were aware of the situation before the game. There is room for improvement, particularly in areas like organization and pressing. We can advance quickly, but first, we need to understand the game better. My players know I have great confidence in them, and I hope for swift progress.”
Brentford, on the other hand, showcased a solid performance, with Keith Andrews commending the impact of their club-record signing, midfielder Mamadou Sangare, acquired for £41 million. Andrews remarked on the team’s pre-season form and noted Sangare’s promising skills, highlighting the significance of getting such a player during the transfer window.
“He adds to an already strong midfield. I thoroughly appreciated his performance today, and it is encouraging to see a humble young man who seems very eager to succeed,” Andrews said.
Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi said his new-look side are “not a team yet” as he named three players who are yet to return to full fitness after the summer.
Despite a transfer window of big spending, with the signing of Savinho set to take Tottenham past the £300m mark, Spurs were humbled 3-0 by Brentford in a dismal opening day defeat.
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“For many reasons I think we are not (a) team yet”, De Zerbi said. We are not at the right point in physical condition “But no excuse. When you are building a new project I don’t want time, but we have to pass through these problems.
Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi feels his side are still undercooked (PA Wire)
“I believe in my players, my club and myself. I think we are working well but we are late for the start of the Premier League. It’s a step we have to improve quickly. We could fight stronger than we did today and we lost too many duels. The target is to become a team. To find the spirit, the soul, is a process.”
De Zerbi handed debuts to five of Tottenham’s six summer recruits, but said “Marcos Senesi, Jan Paul van Hecke and Sandro Tonali are not in the best physical condition”. Senesi and Van Hecke were at the World Cup with Argentina and the Netherlands, respectively.
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On his side’s physical condition, De Zerbi added: “We knew that before the game. We have to improve on that and many other things, like organisation and pressing.
“We can improve quickly but first, we have to understand this game better. I know their physical condition and new players but we have to put something more. We had to fight more. Players know I have a lot of confidence in them and we hope to improve quickly.”
Brentford, meanwhile, were impressive and Keith Andrews hailed the impact of club-record signing of£41m midfielder Mamadou Sangare.
“It’s pretty impressive on a lot of fronts. You never truly know from pre-season what you’re going to get,” Andrews said. “But it felt like we were in a good spot and we produced a pretty good performance.
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More of the same from [Sangare], hopefully. It’s been nice working with him and the club deserves a lot of credit for getting that deal done because he could have gone elsewhere.
“He adds to an already quality midfield that we have. I really enjoyed his performance today. You never truly know in a different league, with a different language, but he’s a humble young man who looks very hungry.”
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