Roberto De Zerbi expressed his regret following Tottenham Hotspur’s heavy 3-0 loss against Brentford, acknowledging that his team failed to exhibit the necessary fight in their disappointing start to the Premier League season.
The defeat marked Tottenham’s joint-heaviest opening day loss since the Premier League era began, a harsh blow for a squad that has undergone significant investment. The club has spent over £200 million ($272 million) aiming to strengthen a team that narrowly escaped relegation on the final day of the previous season.
In an effort to integrate fresh talent, De Zerbi handed debuts to four new signings: Sandro Tonali, Andrew Robertson, Marcos Senesi, and Jan Paul van Hecke, while Mateus Fernandes appeared as a substitute in the second half. Despite these changes, Tottenham could not withstand Brentford’s offensive pressure.
Brentford took control with first-half goals from Keane Lewis-Potter and Vitaly Janelt, before Michael Kayode added a third after the break, sealing a dominant victory for the home side.
De Zerbi Addresses Struggles and Shortcomings
Reflecting on the match, De Zerbi refrained from making excuses, instead highlighting Tottenham’s physical and tactical shortcomings. “We suffered physically but we knew that before the game,” he admitted. “We were not ready to fight the duels. We made a lot of mistakes in the timing of the pressure with Mikey Moore.”
He further pointed out Tottenham’s positional errors during pressing phases, particularly in the first half, which allowed Brentford to gain the upper hand. “If you analyse the game, you can see how many duels we lost in the first half when the game went in Brentford’s direction,” De Zerbi explained.
The manager was clear about the root of the defeat: a lack of fighting spirit and poor performance. “We didn’t play well. We didn’t fight in the right way. Not because we didn’t remember the last season,” he stated, emphasizing the need for improvement moving forward.