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 evidence that his heavily overhauled squad is still "not a team yet" despite a summer that has seen the club spend well over £300 million on new players, including the pending arrivals of Manchester City duo Savinho and Omar Marmoush. De Zerbi acknowledged that the team lacked the necessary intensity and fight on the day, but he also pointed to the limited preparation time as a contributing factor.
He explained that many of the new signings arrived late after the World Cup, and the pre‑season tour in Australia did not allow the squad to train together in a cohesive manner. "We are not at the right point in terms of physical condition," he said after the match. "The players came back late, we couldn't organise the right sessions, and we are not taking the usual risks because we are still figuring things out." He was quick to stress that these are not excuses but rather the normal growing pains of a project that is being built from the ground up. "When you are creating a new process, you have to go through a period of problems," De Zerbi told reporters.
"I believe in my players, I believe in the club, and I believe in myself. After the Hoffenheim friendly we knew we were behind schedule, but it is a step forward and we must improve quickly." The manager highlighted several specific shortcomings: Spurs lost too many individual duels, failed to win second balls, and made tactical mistakes when trying to increase pressure. "We didn't win a single second ball, a single duel, a single tackle – it was painful," he added. "We need to be stronger, more decisive, and more coordinated." De Zerbi stressed that the ultimate objective is to transform the collection of individuals into a genuine team.
He argued that this cannot be achieved simply by signing players during a transfer window; it requires the squad to develop chemistry, a shared spirit, and a clear identity on the pitch. "You become a team when the players find the connection, the soul, the style of play. Until then, we are still in the building phase," he explained.
Former England international Jamie Redknapp, speaking for Sky Sports, echoed the sentiment by describing Tottenham as a "team of strangers". He noted that the lack of understanding between new centre‑backs Jan‑Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi was evident, as was the team's inability to win the necessary duels.
Redknapp also questioned the creative spark, singling out Conor Gallagher's role in the attacking midfield and wondering where the ingenuity would come from. "The hope is that in six weeks they will look different, but today they missed the fundamentals required to win a match," he said.
Looking ahead, De Zerbi said Spurs will try to bounce back in the Carabao Cup second round against Championship side Charlton Athletic on Wednesday, before facing Newcastle United in their next league fixture on Saturday. He reiterated that the immediate target is to forge a cohesive unit, emphasizing two key ingredients: the "soul" of the club and a recognizable style of play, both with and without the ball. "When we find those two conditions, we can become dangerous for anyone," he asserted.
The defeat also highlighted specific moments that could have changed the outcome. Brentford's second goal came after a soft pass from Lucas Bergvall to Mathias Jensen, whose shot was saved only for Vitaly Janelt to tap in the rebound.
Bergvall, who started the match, was substituted at halftime for veteran midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur. De Zerbi admitted that while Bergvall is a talented 20‑year‑old, he expected the youngster to struggle against Brentford's physicality, and that Bentancur, despite his experience, was not fully fit to start. Analyzing the defensive line, De Zerbi noted a dramatic turnover from the previous season: last year the back four comprised Pedro Porro, Kevin Danso, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie, whereas this season it featured Archie Gray, JP Van Hecke, Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson – four brand‑new faces. In midfield, the shift was equally stark, moving from Bentancur and Joao Palhinha to a pairing of Bergvall and the newly signed Tonali.
"We are in a transition period," the manager said. "The plan is to build something good for the club, even if we suffer a defeat now." A notable milestone from the match was the appointment of 20‑year‑old Archie Gray as Tottenham's youngest ever captain in a competitive game, stepping in for the absent new skipper Micky van de Ven.
Gray, who was deployed at right‑back due to Pedro Porro's delayed return from the World Cup, admitted the team lacked fight. "We lost too many duels; they simply out‑worked us across the park," he told Sky Sports. "We need to review the footage and improve.
For the fans, there are no words to describe how sorry we are for letting them down in the first game." De Zerbi concluded on a cautiously optimistic note, insisting that the loss, while painful, could serve as a catalyst for growth. "We have to suffer a little now, but maybe this defeat will make us stronger than we thought," he said. He emphasized that time is essential, and even a win in the upcoming cup match or the next league game will not instantly turn the squad into a unified side. "We need to keep working on the soul and the style, and only then will we become a threat to any opponent," he affirmed.
In summary, Tottenham's opening day loss under De Zerbi underscores the challenges of integrating a large influx of new talent, the physical and tactical adjustments required after a disrupted pre‑season, and the necessity of building a shared identity. While the manager and pundits alike agree that the team is currently a collection of strangers, the season ahead offers ample opportunity for the players to develop the chemistry, resilience, and tactical cohesion needed to compete at the highest level.