Tottenham need to start winning games in the Premier League before it gets too late for Roberto De Zerbi to steady the ship at N17.
Tottenham’s winless start to the new Premier League season means that the club is now stranded at the bottom of the league table. The Lilywhites have picked up just two points from their opening five matches, placing Roberto De Zerbi under immediate pressure at N17 to steady the sinking ship at Hotspur Way. The attack has been misfiring, with Spurs scoring just two goals in the league so far. It seems as though there are still plenty of glaring issues on the pitch that need to be rectified.
However, regular match-going fans would argue that the performances have not been as poor from the North Londoners this time around. Spurs have started most games brightly, playing on the front foot and placing their opponents under immediate pressure. But the lack of goals in the side means that the Lilywhites are failing to make the most of their strong starts after struggling to find the back of the net on a regular basis.
This same trend has continued in their games against Everton, Liverpool (in the Carabao Cup), Newcastle United, and more recently against Aston Villa last weekend. The North Londoners have built up enough momentum during the opening stages of matches, but to no avail in the end as they have lacked a genuine goal-scoring threat in the final third. The mindset of the players has also been a major talking point, with many faces seemingly dropping on the pitch as soon as Spurs hit a roadblock during certain phases of a match.
Andy Robertson wants to see a change in mentality from his Tottenham teammates
Tottenham have secured just two points from their opening five Premier League matches this season. The Lilywhites have struggled in the final third of the pitch, while their silly errors have also allowed Roberto De Zerbi’s men to concede a number of chances in recent matches. An unwanted statistic has revealed that the North Londoners have now failed to win their last 46 matches in all competitions in which they have conceded the first goal. That is something that is unfathomable for a club of Spurs’ stature.
Andy Robertson has now claimed that he wants to see a change in how his teammates react after conceding a goal in upcoming Premier League matches. Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast (via Hotspur Lane), Robertson said,
“You just see certain moments, like the Liverpool game, we played so well there in moments, and then you get a goal against you, and it’s like (heads down). And then we go back to 2-1, and all of a sudden, it’s chests out, and everyone’s wanting the ball, and it’s like, we need that all the time even if you go 1-0 down, or it’s 0-0 late on.”
Andy Robertson is right to point out that the Spurs players can be too reactive on the pitch and get their heads down when things do not go their way during certain matches. The prolific left-back wants his teammates to develop a stronger mentality that could help them deal with setbacks during a game and overcome a deficit in the Premier League in the coming months. The players need to step up on the pitch and believe that it is not too late to overturn a result if they continue to push towards the same goal, starting with the clash against Manchester United.
Robertson’s assessment of the current Spurs side is reflected in the team’s statistics. The Lilywhites have struggled to maintain their focus and momentum throughout matches this season. As per Opta Analyst (via X), the North Londoners have spent zero minutes of a Premier League game in a winning position. On the other hand, Roberto De Zerbi’s men have spent 36% of their time in a losing position in a single game, with the other 64% of their time spent drawing a fixture this season.
The mindset of these players needs to change quickly, while the performances also need to improve in the coming weeks. Will Roberto de Zerbi be able to instil a winning mentality in his players? Only time will tell.
