Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi did not hide his disappointment after his side suffered a 3-0 defeat to Brentford in the opening match of the Premier League season. The Italian coach used the loss as a clear signal that his heavily‑overhauled squad has yet to coalesce into a unified team, despite a summer that saw the club spend well over £300 million on new talent.
De Zerbi told reporters that the players were still "not a team yet" and that the lack of cohesion was evident in the way they fought – or rather, failed to fight – on the pitch. The defeat was particularly stark because five of the six newcomers who arrived during the transfer window started the game. Yet the Bees, playing with a side that had been together for much longer, dominated the contest, exposing the gaps in Tottenham's defensive organization, pressing intensity, and overall chemistry.
The result was a reminder of the club's recent history of finishing 17th in back‑to‑back seasons before narrowly escaping relegation on the final day last term. In his post‑match briefing De Zerbi explained that the squad's physical condition was not yet optimal.
He noted that many of the new signings arrived late after the World Cup and that the pre‑season tour in Australia did not allow the team to train as intensively as they would have liked. "We are not at the right point in terms of fitness and preparation," he said.
"There are many reasons for that, but those are not excuses. When you are building a new project, you have to go through growing pains." He added that the lack of familiarity among the players meant that the tactical patterns he wants to implement were still in the learning phase. "You cannot create a team simply by signing players on paper.
The players have to find a connection, a shared spirit, a soul. That takes time," De Zerbi stressed. He expressed confidence in his squad, saying, "I believe in my players, I believe in the club, and I believe in myself. After the pre‑season friendly against Hoffenheim we were already aware that we were behind schedule, but it is a step forward and we must improve quickly." De Zerbi was blunt about the on‑field shortcomings: Spurs lost a large number of duels, failed to win any second balls, and made several timing errors when trying to press higher up the field.
He highlighted that the team did not win a single tackle or duel in the second half, which contributed to Brentford's second goal. The Italian manager acknowledged that the lack of aggression was a key factor in the defeat and promised that the squad would need to increase its intensity in future matches. Former Brighton boss and Tottenham's new manager also responded to the criticism of former Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp, who described Spurs as a "team of strangers" lacking the intuitive understanding that comes from playing together. Redknapp questioned the lack of partnership between centre‑backs Jan‑Paul Van Hecke and Marcos Senesi, the absence of creativity from Conor Gallagher, and the overall failure to execute fundamental football principles.
De Zerbi accepted these observations as fair, noting that the team still needed to develop the "soul" and the "style of play" that would make them dangerous both with and without the ball. Looking ahead, De Zerbi outlined a short‑term roadmap.
Tottenham will try to bounce back in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday when they host Championship side Charlton Athletic, before returning to the Premier League for a home fixture against Newcastle United on Saturday. He emphasized that the immediate goal is to turn the lessons from the Brentford loss into tangible improvements, even if the results do not change overnight.
"Even if we win the next game, we still need time to become a true team," he said. The match also featured a notable moment for youngster Archie Gray, who captained Spurs for the first time in a competitive match after the regular captain, Micky van de Ven, was unavailable. The 20‑year‑old, who was deployed at right‑back due to Pedro Porro's delayed return from international duty, admitted that the side lacked fight and that the fans deserved better. "We lost too many duels.
They simply out‑worked us across the park. We have to watch the footage and see where we went wrong," Gray told Sky Sports. De Zerbi also discussed his decision to start 20‑year‑old Lucas Bergvall in midfield.
He explained that Bergvall, despite his youth, was given a chance because veteran Rodrigo Bentancur was still regaining match fitness after a late pre‑season arrival. The manager believed Bergvall performed adequately, but acknowledged that the youngster would need experience to avoid losing possession in critical moments.
"In the next two years he will not make that mistake again," De Zerbi asserted. The Italian coach reflected on the defensive line that featured four new faces – Archie Gray, JP Van Hecke, Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson – alongside a back‑four that had been largely rebuilt from the previous season. He pointed out that the midfield was also undergoing a transition, with Bergvall and the newly signed Tonali expected to share duties with Bentancur once the latter is fully fit.
Overall, De Zerbi painted a picture of a club in the midst of a rebuilding phase, where the focus is on establishing a collective identity rather than chasing immediate results. He admitted that the 3‑0 loss was painful but also useful, as it highlighted the areas that need urgent attention. "We have to suffer a little now, but this defeat could make us stronger," he concluded. Tottenham's fans will be hoping that the growing pains translate into progress over the coming weeks, as the squad strives to find the missing link between individual talent and cohesive team performance.
The journey from a collection of strangers to a united, competitive side is expected to be a gradual one, but De Zerbi's confidence suggests that the project is on the right track, provided the players can absorb the lessons from Brentford and translate them into improved performances on both domestic and European fronts.