Roberto De Zerbi Bans Tottenham Players From Using Phones During Meals in Bid to Turn Season Around
Roberto De Zerbi has introduced a strict no-phone rule during meals as he attempts to improve team spirit and revive Tottenham Hotspur’s struggling season.
The Spurs head coach took his squad to Marbella, Spain, following their 1-1 draw against Manchester United, hoping the training camp would help strengthen relationships among the players and coaching staff.
Tottenham remain without a Premier League victory and are struggling near the bottom of the table. With pressure mounting on De Zerbi, the Italian believes spending more time together away from the pitch could help the team rediscover its confidence and unity.
Speaking ahead of Tottenham’s clash with Coventry City, De Zerbi explained that players were prohibited from using their phones during breakfast, lunch and dinner to encourage conversations and strengthen their connection.
“We removed phones from breakfast, lunch and dinner to stay together and speak because now it’s like being on the phone all the time,” he said.
The Italian also revealed that the squad held several important meetings to discuss their performances and the club’s difficult situation, with every player encouraged to take responsibility.
De Zerbi clarified that the training camp was not about imposing military-style discipline, insisting that players and staff were free to spend time together outside training.
The manager explained that he had previously organised similar camps during his time at Marseille and believed the experience could benefit Tottenham, particularly because several new players had joined the squad during the summer.
He also stressed the importance of spending several days together without family distractions, allowing everyone to prioritise the club and work towards improving results.
Meanwhile, Tottenham have received a potential boost ahead of their meeting with Coventry City, with Dejan Kulusevski expected to return to the matchday squad after recovering from a long-term knee injury.
The Swedish international has been out of action since Tottenham’s 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace, making his potential return an encouraging development for De Zerbi.
However, Savio and Lucas Bergvall are expected to miss the match, while Pedro Porro remains sidelined through injury.
