Tottenham Hotspur's manager Roberto De Zerbi did not hide his disappointment after the team's 3-0 loss to Brent Brentford on the opening day of the Premier League, describing the squad as "not a team yet" despite a summer that saw more than £300 million spent on new players. The Italian coach acknowledged that his side lacked the fighting spirit required to compete, and he admitted that the players were still adjusting after a hectic pre‑season that was disrupted by the World Cup and a trip to Australia. Sky Sports analyst Jamie Redknapp echoed the sentiment, branding the Spurs line‑up a "team of strangers" and questioning the chemistry between recent signings such as Jan Paul Van Hecke and Marcos Senesi. The defeat was a harsh reminder that spending alone does not instantly create cohesion.
Five of the six newcomers who arrived in the summer featured against Brentford, yet the team appeared disjointed and struggled to win duels, retain second balls, or create clear chances. De Zerbi explained at the post‑match press conference that the squad's physical condition was not optimal because many players returned late from the World Cup, and the pre‑season training in Australia did not allow the coaching staff to implement their tactical plans fully.
"We are not at the right point in terms of fitness and understanding," he said. "We cannot set a target until we become a real team." He went on to stress that these issues are not excuses but rather the normal growing pains of a new project. "Building a new process takes time.
I don't want time as an excuse, but we have to get through these problems," De Zerbi added. He expressed confidence in his players, the club, and himself, recalling the final pre‑season friendly against Hoffenheim as a benchmark of where the team stood before the league started. "We were late for the start of the Premier League, but it is a step.
We must improve quickly," he said. The manager highlighted specific shortcomings from the Brentford match: a failure to win any second balls, an inability to win duels, and a lack of urgency when pressing.
He noted that the team lost the battle for possession and that the midfield and defensive lines were still learning each other's movements. "We could have fought stronger.
We lost too many duels, made too many timing mistakes when we wanted to press higher," De Zerbi admitted. He concluded that the immediate priority is to forge a collective identity, stating that a team cannot be built simply through transfer activity. "You become a team when the players find a connection, a spirit, a soul.
It is a process," he explained. Redknapp's critique was scathing.
He said the starting XI lacked the necessary know‑how and chemistry, particularly pointing out the absence of a clear creative outlet in the number‑10 role and questioning the decision to start Conor Gallagher there. "I never liked the look of the team when I saw the XI," he remarked. "The hope is that Tottenham will not be the same side in six weeks, but there were so many disappointing factors today.
They failed to execute the fundamentals needed to win a match." Looking ahead, De Zerbi reminded supporters that the next challenge comes in the Carabao Cup, where Spurs will host Championship side Charlton Athletic on Wednesday, followed by a Premier League clash with Newcastle United on Saturday. He emphasized that the path to becoming a cohesive unit will involve both wins and setbacks. "Even if we win on Wednesday or next Saturday, we still need time to become a team," he warned.
The match itself offered a few bright spots. Lucas Bergvall, the 20‑year‑old midfielder, was substituted at half‑time for the more experienced Rodrigo Bentancur, who was not fully fit to start. De Zerbi defended his decision, noting that Bergvall would learn from the experience and improve his ball retention in future games. He also reflected on the defensive line, which now includes four new faces—Archie Gray, JP Van Hecke, Marcos Senesi, and Andy Robertson—replacing the previous season's back four of Pedro Porro, Kevin Danso, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie.
In midfield, the transition from the previous duo of Bentancur and Joao Palhinha to a combination of Bergvall and the newly signed Sandro Tonali underscores the rebuilding phase. Archie Gray made history by becoming Tottenham's youngest ever captain in a competitive match, stepping in for the absent new skipper Micky van de Ven.
The 20‑year‑old, who played 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‑muscled us across the park. We need to review that and improve," he told Sky Sports.
He also expressed remorse toward the fans, saying there were "no words" for letting them down in the first game of the season. De Zerbi summed up his philosophy in a broader sense: to be dangerous, Tottenham must rediscover both the "soul" and the "style of play" that define a successful side. He believes the team possesses the quality but has yet to display it consistently. "When we find those two conditions, I think we can become dangerous for everyone.
Until then, we have to suffer," he said, adding that the defeat could serve as a catalyst for growth. "Maybe we woke up stronger than we thought." In summary, the opening loss to Brentford has highlighted the challenges of integrating a large influx of new talent, the physical and tactical adjustments required after a disrupted pre‑season, and the urgent need for the players to develop a shared identity on the pitch. While the financial investment is substantial, De Zerbi and his coaching staff understand that building a cohesive, competitive unit takes time, patience, and a collective commitment to improve every facet of the game—from duels and second balls to creativity and defensive solidity.
The coming weeks in the cup and league will provide the first real tests of whether Tottenham can translate their spending into a united, effective team capable of challenging for honors.