Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has publicly criticized his attacking players after a third consecutive Premier League match without a win. The Italian's pointed comments followed a 0-0 home draw with Nottingham Forest this weekend, a result that leaves Spurs in a precarious early-season position.
De Zerbi, who signed a five-year deal last April, singled out forwards Omar Marmoush and Mathys Tel for their performance. The 47-year-old coach, with 13 years of managerial experience across nine clubs, made his frustration clear. His team has failed to score in any of its three league games this season, conceding five times for a -5 goal difference. They currently sit 18th in the Premier League with just one point, already eight points adrift of leaders Manchester City.
Roberto De Zerbi did not hold back in his assessment of the stalemate against Forest. He explicitly questioned the contributions of his attacking duo, Omar Marmoush and Mathys Tel, in the final third. This direct approach from a manager known for his combustible passion highlights the immediate pressure at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The club's next opportunity to break its scoring duck comes quickly, with a home fixture against Everton scheduled for September 12.
The draw itself was not without controversy. Nottingham Forest, who are also winless but showing positive signs under new coach Oliver Glasner, had a goal from Neco Williams wrongly disallowed. Video assistant referee review found no conclusive evidence of a handball, meaning the effort should have stood.
The single point from the Forest match means Tottenham's worrying start to the 2026-27 campaign continues. With a record of zero wins, one draw, and two losses from three games, the team is languishing in the relegation zone. The lack of goals is the most glaring issue, with the defense also having been breached five times. This form leaves them a significant distance behind the pacesetters in the standings.
Focus now turns to halting this slide against Everton, who visit north London sitting 8th in the table. It represents a critical early test for De Zerbi's side to demonstrate a response.
While Tottenham struggled, other stories from the weekend touched on familiar names. Former Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, sold for £125 million to Manchester City, made an immediate impact on his debut for the champions. He set up Erling Haaland for a goal and provided a pass for another effort that was disallowed.
In goalkeeping discussions, Arsenal's David Raya received praise for his distribution from pundit Matthew Upson. Raya, considered by some as the best goalkeeper in the Premier League, is currently third choice for the Spanish national team. Among English keepers, Dean Henderson and James Trafford were noted for strong starts to the season.
A new substitution rule also caused a minor incident, forcing Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers to complete a half-lap of honor past Arsenal fans after being replaced, as players must now leave the field within ten seconds.
The immediate path is clear: find a way to score and win a football match. Roberto De Zerbi's long-term project, backed by a five-year contract, is facing its first major challenge. The manager's decision to call out specific players indicates he believes the problem is one of application and decision-making, not only systemic failure. How the squad reacts will define the next phase of his tenure.
All attention is on the Everton match, a game Tottenham cannot afford to lose. The team's current squad, which you can review in detail on our squad page, has the talent to turn this around, but time is already of the essence. Roberto De Zerbi's Tottenham Hotspur host Everton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 12.
