Roberto De Zerbi has admitted Tottenham Hotspur are not a team yet after their disappointing 3-0 defeat to Brentford on the opening day of the 2026-27 Premier League season.
The Italian manager acknowledged that Spurs are behind schedule physically and tactically despite spending more than £300 million during the summer transfer window.
As gathered by Softfootball, De Zerbi revealed that he already realized after Tottenham’s pre-season victory over Hoffenheim that the squad was not sufficiently prepared for the start of the campaign. He stressed that the club is currently late for the start of the Premier League.
Rather than immediately setting targets, De Zerbi believes Tottenham must first develop the spirit, connection and physical condition required to compete effectively.
The defeat at Brentford exposed several of those weaknesses, with Spurs struggling in individual duels and failing to establish the cohesion expected from a squad that has undergone significant changes.
Despite the heavy investment and high expectations, the former Brighton and Marseille boss insists improvement must come before results.
