Tottenham Hotspur's winless and goalless start to the Premier League season has prompted a stark warning from manager Roberto De Zerbi. The Italian issued a reality check to his squad after a 0-0 draw with Nottingham Forest on Saturday extended their miserable opening run.
Spurs have now failed to win any of their opening three league games and, more alarmingly, have not scored a single goal. This marks the first time since the 1974-75 season that the club has begun a campaign with three consecutive blanks. De Zerbi spoke bluntly to Sky Sports after the match, acknowledging the pressure following a summer where the club invested over £300 million in new talent.
De Zerbi did not shy away from the scale of the problem. He stressed that simply buying expensive players does not instantly create a cohesive team. "We bought very, very good players but you can't just build the team with the names like in Football Manager," he said. His comments highlight the growing frustration at the club's inability to convert significant investment into points on the pitch.
The manager also addressed the situation of deadline-day loan signing Mykhailo Mudryk, who made his first Premier League appearance for Spurs since November 2024 after joining from Chelsea. De Zerbi, who previously worked with the 25-year-old Ukraine international, remains a believer in his potential, having once described him as a future Ballon d'Or winner. However, he tempered expectations, stating plainly, "He needs time and he needs work." Mudryk was one of three substitutes used, alongside Andy Robertson and Mateus Fernandes.
The statistics paint a grim picture. As of September 6, 2026, Tottenham Hotspur sit 20th in the Premier League, rooted to the bottom with zero points from two games. Their recent form reads LL, having conceded five goals without scoring any, resulting in a -5 goal difference. They are already six points adrift of early leaders Manchester City, a daunting gap this early in the campaign. This follows a season where the club narrowly avoided relegation, adding to the current sense of crisis. Fans can view the full, concerning standings on our site.
De Zerbi fielded a lineup featuring several of the club's summer acquisitions in an attempt to find a winning formula. Sandro Tonali, Jon Paul Van Hecke, Savio, and Omar Marmoush all started the match at the City Ground. Despite the fresh faces, the team again lacked a cutting edge in the final third. De Zerbi also referenced the potential of Mathys Tel, another young player in the squad, but noted he currently "takes too many wrong decisions," indicating a broader issue with decision-making and cohesion across the attacking unit.
The immediate focus shifts to halting this slide. The next opportunity comes quickly, with a home fixture against Everton scheduled for September 12. Everton currently occupy 8th place in the table, presenting another tough challenge for De Zerbi's side. The manager must find a way to integrate his new signings rapidly and unlock a goal threat from somewhere within his squad. Supporters can check the details of this important upcoming match and the rest of the season's schedule on our fixtures page. The club's next Premier League game is at home to Everton on September 12, 2026.
