Tottenham need to start winning games in the Premier League after the ongoing international break.
Roberto De Zerbi’s Tottenham side is breaking all sorts of unwanted records in the Premier League this season. The Italian tactician did a great job by helping the Lilywhites avoid relegation last season after coming into the club during the latter stages of the campaign. The miracle that he worked on the pitch last season warranted his long-term stay at N17, with the club doing everything they could to back the 47-year-old in the transfer market by splashing the cash on ten new players in the end.
However, it is fair to say that De Zerbi is already feeling the heat at N17 after the club’s winless start to the new Premier League campaign. We are five games into the new league campaign, and Spurs are stranded at the bottom of the league table, securing just two points and scoring just two goals during that time. Things are not going to plan for the Italian tactician, who is clearly struggling to get the best out of his players on a regular basis in recent weeks.
The ongoing international break could not have come at a better time for Roberto de Zerbi. It is important that the Italian tactician figures out a way to solve the lingering problems on the pitch during this three-week break. On that note, the 47-year-old has already garnered more attention by giving the non-international players a week off right now, allowing the players to focus on their recovery plans instead of forcing them to be on the training pitch and improve their physical fitness.
Roberto de Zerbi’s Tottenham side need to hit back in the PL
Not many fans expected Tottenham to be stranded at the bottom of the Premier League table after the club splashed the cash on ten new players in the summer. There was a sense of optimism in and around N17 after the match-going supporters saw the Lilywhites backing Roberto de Zerbi in the transfer market. However, it is fair to suggest that the longing sense of positivity surrounding the club has quickly vanished, thanks to the dismal start endured by De Zerbi’s men in the Premier League this time around.
Alan Shearer has now backtracked on his prediction of where Spurs will finish in the Premier League this season, stating that clinching the European spots seems unlikely for De Zerbi’s men if the performances do not improve in the coming months. Speaking in an interview (via Chris Cowlin), Shearer said,
“It is a long, long three weeks for Tottenham and they simply have to start winning football games when they are back from the international break. All the bigger questions will start to be asked, if not already, if they don’t start winning football games very, very soon. I still think they’ll have enough to stay up.”
The renowned pundit added,
“They’ll use the Aston Villa situation and what happened to them at the start of last season when I don’t think they won in their first five games and they then managed to climb the league and qualify for Europe again. They will look at that and think there’s still loads of football to be played, which there is, but there’s a massive amount of work to be done at Spurs. I had them to finish in the top six this season and I am not sure that that will happen now.”
What needs to be done by Roberto de Zerbi at N17?
As Alan Shearer rightly points out, Spurs should take inspiration from Aston Villa and see how well the Villans did when things weren’t going their way in the Premier League season. Unai Emery’s men were winless in their opening five matches last year, and still went on to clinch a European spot in the end after improving their performances during the second half of the campaign. The same trend needs to be followed by Roberto de Zerbi’s men, who need to take responsibility for their actions on the pitch in the coming months.
It is still not too late for Roberto de Zerbi to turn the tide around at N17 this season. The season is not defined by how well the Lilywhites do in their opening five matches. It is clear to see that the players are putting in the efforts on the pitch by playing aggressive, attacking football. The only thing missing is the final product. There are positive signs in their displays, and it is almost guaranteed that the North Londoners will not look back once it starts clicking for them on the pitch.
