Tottenham manager De Zerbi criticizes team for lack of fighting spirit

After Tottenham Hotspur's 0-3 away defeat to Brentford in their Premier League opener, manager Roberto De Zerbi expressed strong dissatisfaction with the game in a post-match interview, stating that the team has not yet shown its true fighting spirit.

In response to the crushing defeat in the first game of the new season, De Zerbi pointed out in an interview that the team was seriously lacking in both physical condition and tactical cohesion: "For many reasons, we are not a team yet."

"You can't say what you can do until you become a true team. Our physical condition wasn't ideal due to some players returning late and preseason training schedules, but these are not excuses."

Speaking about the players' desire to win and their physical performance on the field, De Zerbi criticized the team's attitude: "We could have shown a stronger fighting spirit. But today we were at a disadvantage in physical duels, always a step behind in second balls, and almost never won a single second ball duel, physical challenge, or tackle."

This summer, Tottenham Hotspur brought in several new signings, including Andrew Robertson, Jan Paul van Hek, and Sandro Tonali, with transfer spending expected to exceed £300 million. However, De Zerbi believes that money cannot directly translate into improved team strength.

De Zerbi admitted: "You have to take it one step at a time to make progress. The primary goal now is to come together as a whole. You can't become a strong team just by signing players on paper in the transfer market. Only when the players connect with each other and show their soul can they be a real team."

Finally, De Zerbi stated that although the team is facing injuries and delayed returns, he still has confidence in the club, the players, and himself, and the whole team must face the problems and make improvements as soon as possible.

Image source: Internet/Tottenham Hotspur official website