‘Most fragile team I’ve managed!’ – Roberto De Zerbi launches scathing criticism of Tottenham after Aston Villa defeat
Tottenham’s difficult start to the new Premier League season took another turn for the worse on Saturday as Aston Villa secured a 3-2 victory, leaving Spurs in the relegation zone after five matches without a win.
Roberto De Zerbi was visibly frustrated after the final whistle and delivered a strong assessment of his players, describing Tottenham as the most mentally fragile team he has managed during his 14-year coaching career.
The Italian believes Spurs are struggling to maintain their performances for the full 90 minutes, despite showing promising spells during matches.
“It’s difficult to explain because, in my career, 14 years as a coach, I’ve never seen one team like us,” De Zerbi said after the defeat. “So fragile, so inconsistent. You’re good, or you’re bad.”
De Zerbi admitted he could not fully explain why his side repeatedly collapse after making strong starts.
He said Tottenham played very well during the first half against Villa and created opportunities to score, but their failure to take those chances was followed by another defensive setback.
The Spurs boss also questioned whether his players lost energy after Mohammed Kudus found the net, while insisting that the team must become more compact and remain stronger when under pressure.
De Zerbi demands stronger leaders
The manager also identified leadership and communication as major problems within his squad.
According to De Zerbi, Tottenham need stronger characters on the pitch who can take responsibility and help the team remain organised when matches become difficult.
“Maybe the communication between the players [is the problem], maybe the leaders have to be stronger,” he explained. “We need leaders to drive and lead the team.”
De Zerbi pointed to similar collapses against Newcastle, Liverpool and Everton, suggesting that the problem has become a recurring issue rather than an isolated incident.
The Italian now faces the task of finding a solution during the international break, with Tottenham desperate to turn their season around.
Manchester United up next
Tottenham will have some time to regroup during the international break, but their next Premier League fixture provides another major test.
Spurs are scheduled to travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United when domestic action resumes.
With Tottenham still searching for their first league victory of the season, De Zerbi will be under increasing pressure to find answers and prevent his side from slipping further towards the bottom of the table.
