Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi confirmed his team are 'not a team yet' after a 3-0 opening-season loss to Brentford, despite spending over £300m this summer. The Italian admitted the squad lacked fight and cohesion, as Sky Sports' Jamie Redknapp criticized them as a 'team of strangers'. Five of Spurs' six summer signings featured in the defeat, but the new-look side were outclassed by the Bees in a deserved result. De Zerbi acknowledged the squad's physical underpreparedness, citing late arrivals from the World Cup and disrupted pre-season training. 'We are not in the right point in physical condition,' he said, stressing the need for time to build a cohesive unit. The defeat followed Spurs' 17th-place finish last season, raising concerns about their progress under De Zerbi.
De Zerbi's Two 'Big Conditions' to Become 'A Team'
De Zerbi outlined two key factors for his squad to become a 'team': 'soul' and 'style of play'. He admitted the team failed to display either in the Brentford loss, with players struggling to connect and execute their game plan. 'We didn't show the soul, and we didn't show the quality of the play with the ball and without the ball,' he said. The manager emphasized that results alone wouldn't define their development, stressing the importance of patience. 'Even if we win Wednesday or next Saturday, we need time to become a team,' he warned, highlighting the challenges of integrating a new squad.
De Zerbi Admits Starting Bergvall Was a Risk
Spurs conceded a soft second goal as Lucas Bergvall allowed Mathias Jensen's saved shot to rebound into the net. De Zerbi substituted the 20-year-old at halftime for Rodrigo Bentancur, acknowledging Bergvall's struggle against Brentford's physicality. 'Lucas Bergvall for the second goal,' he said, noting the young player's potential for growth. The manager also criticized the defensive line, which included four new signings, and questioned the decision to start Bergvall over the experienced Bentancur, who was unfit. 'I knew before the game that Lucas Bergvall, in this type of game, maybe he could suffer more than Rodrigo Bentancur,' he admitted, framing the choice as part of the club's long-term project.
