De Zerbi Admits Spurs Need to “Unblock Ourselves” as Goalless Run Extends to Four Games

LONDON — Tottenham pushed hard but remained stagnant in their quest for goals, with their barren run now stretching across four matches. Despite significant investment, the team continues to struggle to find fluidity between defense and attack.

On the positive side, the inclusion of Jan Paul van Hecke and Mateus Fernandes has improved ball progression through midfield. The team shows energy on the wings and appears more solid defensively than in previous seasons. “In Italy I would be the best coach,” joked Roberto De Zerbi after securing another clean sheet following the draw at Nottingham Forest.

Based on play outside the penalty areas, Tottenham deserved more than a 0-0 home draw against Everton. However, as De Zerbi acknowledged, Premier League games are rarely won outside the box. The real issue lies in creating clear chances inside the opposition penalty area.

“There’s a word in Italian that literally translates to ‘if we unblock ourselves,’ and I believe this team is extremely strong,” De Zerbi explained.

“I came last season when things were difficult. I’m always realistic rather than overly optimistic. The improvement takes time—it’s not immediate to transform a team.”

Creating genuine scoring opportunities proved challenging, with Lucas Bergvall’s long-range effort in the 89th minute being Tottenham’s most threatening shot. Even that chance came from a mistake by England’s goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

The Spurs’ search for their first Premier League goal of the season frustrated supporters, as evidenced by a fan’s sign reading “Please score a goal” displayed after the match.

Despite controlling possession and creating 37 touches inside the opponent’s penalty area—50% more than the Premier League average last season—Spurs managed only 0.64 expected goals from 14 shots. The team’s attacking struggles became apparent even with improved overall play.

“What makes this lack of goals even more puzzling is that Tottenham executed everything else well today,” noted observers.

The team’s difficulties weren’t limited to finishing. Individual decision-making in final positions also raised questions, particularly Mathys Tel’s tendency to retreat under pressure instead of driving forward.

“He’s a striker—he needs to learn to play with his shoulder to goal and always look toward the goal,” De Zerbi commented on Tel’s performance.

De Zerbi acknowledged that the squad’s late assembly due to international commitments and injuries affected their readiness:

“We started this season too late. Many players were at the World Cup, and we faced several injuries during our Australian pre-season tour. We signed two players late—Savio and Marmoush.”

“I only began working with this group two weeks ago. We’re still building proper fitness levels. We played well for the first 30 minutes, but then our energy dipped.”

“If we can extend that strong period from 30 minutes to 70 or 80 minutes, I’m confident we’ll win many games,” De Zerbi concluded. “Right now, simply clearing our goal-scoring drought would satisfy many Tottenham supporters.”

Source link