Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has suggested that the club’s pre-season trip to Australia played a part in their poor physical condition during their disastrous Premier League opener.
Spurs suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat to Brentford, with Keane Lewis-Potter and Vitaly Janelt putting the hosts two goals ahead before Michael Kayode completed the scoring after the break.
The result came despite Tottenham spending around $450 million on a major squad rebuild during the summer. Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi were among the arrivals, while deals were also agreed for Manchester City duo Savinho and Omar Marmoush.
Following the defeat, De Zerbi apologised for his team’s performance and admitted Tottenham were beaten in almost every area of the pitch.
The Italian pointed to several factors behind the team’s lack of physical sharpness, including players returning late from the World Cup and the club’s trip to Australia.
According to De Zerbi, the overseas tour made it difficult for his coaching staff to carry out the physical preparation they wanted without risking player injuries.
Tottenham travelled to Australia in late July as part of the 2026 Sydney Super Cup, playing Sydney FC on July 29 before facing Chelsea at the Accor Stadium on August 1.
De Zerbi had already warned before the Premier League opener that his squad was behind schedule following their disrupted pre-season preparations.
Against Brentford, Spurs struggled to match their opponents physically, losing numerous tackles, duels and second balls.
His comments about the Australian tour have divided Tottenham supporters. Some fans criticised the manager for appearing to shift blame, arguing that a coach should take responsibility when his team performs badly.
Others defended De Zerbi, pointing out that long-distance pre-season tours so close to the beginning of the Premier League season can make preparation more difficult.
Despite the criticism, De Zerbi insisted he still believes in his players. However, he acknowledged that Tottenham are still a work in progress and have yet to develop the chemistry, identity and team spirit needed to compete consistently.
With several new players arriving this summer, the Italian believes Spurs will need time on the training ground to build the connections required to turn their expensive new squad into a functioning team.
