Tottenham’s struggles in front of goal have continued, with Spurs now going six hours without scoring in the Premier League. As a result, much of the attention after Saturday’s goalless draw with Everton focused on why De Zerbi’s side are struggling to find the net.
The Tottenham manager admitted that his players could be suffering from a mental block in front of goal, but remains convinced that once they score, the goals could begin to flow.
De Zerbi also attempted to lighten the mood with a joke about the contrasting treatment he would receive from the Italian and English media. The comment, however, has reportedly attracted criticism in his native Italy.
The Spurs boss joked that keeping two consecutive clean sheets would have earned him plenty of praise from the Italian press, while suggesting that the English media would still focus on the team’s shortcomings.
Italian publication Il Messaggero was unimpressed, accusing De Zerbi of making light of Italian football while attempting to deflect attention from Tottenham’s disappointing start.
The outlet pointed out that Italy has a much stronger World Cup record than England and suggested that De Zerbi should concentrate more on improving Tottenham’s results rather than making jokes about his home country.
However, not all Italian media have been as critical of the Tottenham manager.
Gazzetta dello Sport offered a more balanced assessment, arguing that Spurs are still showing signs of progress despite their poor results. Journalist Davide Chinellato suggested that the club’s potential under De Zerbi remains enormous, although the team is yet to turn that potential into consistent performances.
Tottenham’s biggest problem, according to the report, is confidence. Their inability to score despite dominating periods of matches appears to be affecting the team mentally.
Spurs will now face Liverpool at Anfield in the Carabao Cup, giving De Zerbi another opportunity to find a solution. Tottenham have scored in the competition this season, including their 5-1 victory over Charlton, but Liverpool will present a significantly tougher challenge.
The feeling in Italy appears to be that Tottenham are still a work in progress. There are flashes of quality and signs of improvement, but De Zerbi must find a way to unlock the team and finally turn their considerable potential into goals and results.
