Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has identified Sandro Tonali, Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke as three players who were not yet at their best physically during Spurs’ disappointing 3-0 defeat to Brentford on the opening day of the Premier League season.
Spurs were outplayed at the Gtech, with Keane Lewis-Potter, Vitaly Janelt and Michael Kayode getting on the scoresheet. The defeat came despite Tottenham spending more than £200 million on six first-team players during the summer.
Club-record signing Sandro Tonali struggled during long periods of his competitive debut, while Brentford’s midfield controlled much of the contest. However, De Zerbi also pointed to the physical condition of Tonali, Senesi and Van Hecke as an issue.
The Italian manager admitted he was surprised by both the result and the performance, but refused to use fitness as an excuse. He said Spurs needed to improve their organisation, pressing and ability to compete in duels.
De Zerbi also stressed that Tottenham are beginning a new project and that many players returned late following the World Cup, while several new signings are still adapting to the team.
Despite the heavy defeat, Tonali remained positive. The midfielder defended De Zerbi, saying the manager is rebuilding the team’s spirit and that the squad must stay united and keep working.
👉 In short: De Zerbi isn’t giving up on his new-look Spurs side, but he has made it clear that Tonali, Senesi and Van Hecke need to improve physically, while the entire team must show more fight and intensity.
