Woof, what a brutal start to the Premier League season for Spurs. They got absolutely clobbered 3-0 by Brentford in their opener at the Gtech Community Stadium, and manager Roberto De Zerbi came out swinging with some incredibly blunt truths afterwards. His straight-up admission? This side is “not a team yet,” and honestly, that’s a tough pill to swallow after watching that performance. He’s not messing around, making it clear there is a ton of work ahead before this new-look squad even starts to figure out who they are.
The “Not a Team Yet” Reality Check Is Hitting Hard
De Zerbi didn’t pull any punches, saying, “I think we are not a team yet, for a lot of reasons.” He basically laid out that you can’t even set proper goals until you actually *become* a team, which is a pretty telling statement about where they stand right now. It’s not just about tactics either; the physical condition of the squad isn’t where it needs to be. Turns out, a bunch of players came back late after the World Cup, and a trip to Australia apparently didn’t let them work out properly. But get this: De Zerbi isn’t making excuses. He’s calling it a “normal situation” when you’re kicking off a “new project,” a “new process.” He knows they’re “late for the start of the Premier League” and it’s a “step,” but they “have to improve quickly.” You gotta respect the honesty, even if it stings.
Building for the Future, Even When It Hurts
One of the big talking points was De Zerbi’s decision to start young Lucas Bergvall. The kid’s only 20, and the coach openly admitted he knew Bergvall “could suffer more” against Brentford’s physical style compared to a 29-year-old like Rodrigo Bentancur. So why do it? De Zerbi believes it was the “right” move for the “plan” and the “project.” This wasn’t some oversight; it was a calculated play for the club’s long-term vision. It shows he’s not afraid to throw youngsters into the fire if he thinks it aligns with the overall direction, even if it means taking a hit in the short term.
De Zerbi ended on a note of confidence, saying he believes in his players, his club, and himself. But he also stressed that after the Hoffenheim game, he already knew they weren’t in the “right point.” This 3-0 shellacking against Brentford just underscored that reality. The team is clearly in a foundational phase, and they’ve got to find that team identity fast. It’s a long season, but man, this early form is a serious wake-up call for what’s at stake in this new era.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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