De Zerbi Says Spurs “Not a Team Yet” After Brentford Reality Check

• De Zerbi concedes Spurs are “not a team yet” after a 3-0 opening-day defeat
• Senesi, Van Hecke and Tonali named as short of full fitness
• Brentford’s £41m man Sangare earns early plaudits

So much for the new era arriving on a red carpet. Tottenham were handed a 3-0 reality check by Brentford, and Roberto De Zerbi didn’t sugar-coat it. The Italian admitted his revamped side are “not a team yet” — a blunt but fair assessment after a bruising opener that exposed rust and fragility where rhythm should be.

Early Teething Problems, Big-Spend Expectations

Spurs have splashed the cash — with Savinho set to nudge the outlay beyond £300m — and De Zerbi threw in five debutants to fast-track the project. But cohesion can’t be bought off the shelf. He flagged that Marcos Senesi, Jan Paul van Hecke and Sandro Tonali aren’t at peak condition yet, with Senesi and Van Hecke only recently back after their World Cup exertions. That’s context, not cover. As De Zerbi put it, there are no excuses: Spurs were late to the Premier League party and it showed in lost duels, loose structure and a press that never quite bit.

For those scouring the football betting sites UK this weekend, this was a nudge to temper expectations. The manager’s message was clear: belief is intact, but the basics must sharpen fast — shape, organisation, and a collective willingness to suffer. The target, in his words, is to forge a spirit and soul worthy of the shirt. On this evidence, it’s a work in progress rather than a finished article.

Bees Buzz, Sangare Shines

Credit where it’s due: Brentford were excellent. They sensed Spurs’ uncertainty and swarmed all over it. Keith Andrews was quick to hail Mamadou Sangare, the club-record £41m signing, for a commanding bow. Different league, different language — same authority. Humble and hungry, he added steel and tempo to an already tidy midfield, the sort of presence that turns pressure into territory.

De Zerbi knows the drill. The fitness will come, the patterns will click, and the duels can be won with a touch more bite. But the Premier League doesn’t wait for anyone. If Tottenham want to justify the summer spend and the bold new blueprint, the improvements must be rapid and obvious — starting with organisation out of possession and a press that hunts in packs. The idea is sound; now Spurs must become a team that lives it from minute one.

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