Tottenham Hotspur's new manager Roberto De Zerbi did not shy away from admitting that his squad is still far from being a unified side after their opening‑day 3-0 loss to Brentford. The Italian coach, who arrived at the club this summer, described the defeat as a clear sign that the team "is not a team yet" despite a massive transfer window that has seen Spurs’ spending push beyond the £300 million threshold.
De Zerbi also acknowledged that the players lacked the necessary fighting spirit, a point echoed by former England international Jamie Redknapp, who dismissed the Tottenham eleven as a "team of strangers". The loss came after a busy pre‑season in which five of the six new signings featured against Brentford, yet the newcomers were unable to forge the chemistry required to compete with the well‑drilled Bees.
The result highlighted the challenges facing a club that finished 17th in the league for two consecutive seasons before narrowly escaping relegation on the final day of last season. In his post‑match press conference, De Zerby explained: "We are not a team yet for a lot of reasons.
Until we become a team we cannot define what we are capable of achieving." He went on to detail the physical and logistical hurdles that have hampered the squad's preparation. The World Cup caused many players to return late from international duty, and a pre‑season tour in Australia meant that training sessions could not be conducted in the optimal way. "We are not at the right point in terms of physical condition," De Zerby said.
"We didn't take enough risks in the preparation because of the timing of the tour." Nevertheless, the manager was quick to stress that these issues are not excuses but rather the typical growing pains of a new project. "When you are building a new process you have to go through these problems," he asserted. "I believe in my players, I believe in the club, and I believe in myself.
After the Hoffenheim game we knew we were behind schedule, but it is a step and we must improve quickly." Analyzing the match, De Zerby highlighted the team's inability to win second balls, duels, and tackles. "We lost too many battles, we made too many mistakes in timing when we tried to press higher," he said. "We arrived second on the second ball, we didn't win a single second ball, a single duel, a single tackle – it was tough." The manager then turned to the longer‑term objective of forging a true collective identity.
"The focus now is to become a team," he explained. "You cannot create a team in the transfer market on paper.
A team is built when the players find a connection, develop a shared spirit and discover a collective soul – it is a process, not an instant transformation." Jamie Redknapp echoed many of the same criticisms, noting that the side lacked the instinctive understanding that comes from playing together. He pointed to the nascent partnership between Jan‑Paul Van Hecke and Marcos Senesi as an example of something that had not yet gelled.
Redknapp also questioned the creative options, remarking that he was not convinced by Conor Gallagher's role in the number‑10 position and wondered where the attacking spark would emerge. "The hope is that Tottenham will not be the same side in six weeks," he said, "but there were too many disappointing factors today. They failed to execute the fundamentals required to win a match." Looking ahead, Spurs will seek their first win of the campaign in the Carabao Cup second round against Championship side Charlton Athletic on Wednesday, before hosting Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday.
De Zerby stressed that the journey toward cohesion will require time, but he remains optimistic. "We are much better than we showed today. From Wednesday we can demonstrate our qualities and who we are.
Even if we win Wednesday or next Saturday, we still need time to become a team," he concluded. The match itself featured a soft second goal for Brentford when Lucas Bergvall's pass allowed Mathias Jensen's shot to be saved, leading to Vitaly Janelt's rebound.
Bergvall was taken off at halftime for Rodrigo Bentancur, a decision De Zerby defended by acknowledging the 20‑year‑old's inexperience against Brentford's physicality. "I knew before the game that Bergvall might struggle in this type of match, but we had to give him a chance early in the season," the manager explained. "Bentancur arrived late from pre‑season, so we used Bergvall as a bridge." De Zerby also reflected on the defensive line, noting that four of the five centre‑backs who started were new signings – Archie Gray, JP Van Hecke, Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson – alongside veteran Pedro Porro at right‑back.
He compared this to last season's back four of Pedro Porro, Kevin Danso, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie, underscoring the scale of the overhaul. In midfield, the pairing of Bergvall and the newly signed Tonali replaced the previous season's Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha, further illustrating the extent of the transition. A historic moment occurred when 20‑year‑old Archie Gray captained Spurs, becoming the youngest ever captain in a competitive match for the club after the regular skipper, Micky van de Ven, was unavailable. Gray, playing at right‑back due to Porro's delayed return from the World Cup, admitted the team lacked the necessary fight.
"We lost too many duels. They simply out‑worked us across the park," he told Sky Sports. "For the fans, who were incredible, we let them down in the first game – there are no words for that." In summary, De Zerby and his coaching staff view the opening defeat as a learning experience that will ultimately strengthen the squad. The emphasis now lies on building chemistry, improving physical readiness, and developing a distinct style of play that reflects Tottenham's identity.
While the road ahead is long and fraught with challenges, the manager believes that with patience and perseverance the club can evolve from a collection of strangers into a cohesive, competitive unit capable of challenging at the highest level.