350 million euros, zero goals
That is where Tottenham stand after three Premier League matches. Roberto De Zerbi went after his critics following the draw at Nottingham Forest, and one line did the damage. “We have bought very, very good players, but you can’t build a team just with names like in Football Manager,” the Italian said.
The context makes the jab land. Spurs spent close to 350 million euros this summer. Beaten by Brentford, beaten by Newcastle, then a 0-0 at the City Ground. Not a single goal to show for any of it.
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A squad that met last Thursday
De Zerbi’s argument is simple enough. His full group has barely trained together. “We are disappointed with the result, but very satisfied with the performance. Especially since we started working together last Thursday, for the first time, from day one.”
He has named the job in front of him too, and it sits in the final third. “I think we played very well with the ball, we found the solution. I think we can be much better in the final 30 metres.” What he wants is composure at the sharp end. “Make better decisions, maybe stay calmer when we are about to do something important.”
Patience, purchased at 350 million
The manager will not panic, and he keeps pointing at the difficulty of the trip. “Taking a point in this stadium is not easy. We are not happy not to have won, but it is the right mindset and the right way to move forward.” Results still have to arrive, and soon. A club that spends that kind of money rarely gets to borrow patience from its own supporters for long.
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