Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has attributed his team’s challenging start to the Premier League season to a “mental block” among players, following their fourth consecutive league match without a win or a goal. The latest result, a goalless draw at home against Everton, leaves Spurs 17th in the table with just two points and saw them booed off by frustrated fans.

De Zerbi’s ‘Mental Block’ Diagnosis

Speaking after the Everton match, De Zerbi highlighted a psychological hurdle facing his squad. He used the Italian word “sbloccarsi,” which translates to “unblock ourselves,” to describe the team’s need to overcome this issue. According to The Guardian, De Zerbi stated, “a mental block because four games, no wins, no goals scored … it is tough for the players.” He expressed confidence in his team’s inherent strength, asserting, “The team is extremely strong, we can score goals and we can win games.”

Beyond the psychological aspect, De Zerbi also pointed to a lack of physical fitness, a recurring theme in his post-match analyses. He suggested that the team’s collective goal-scoring history, excluding players like Dominic Solanke and Omar Marmoush, shows a need for the team to collectively find more goals through their quality of play.

Reasons for a Slow Start

De Zerbi provided several explanations for Tottenham’s challenging opening to the season. A major factor was the impact of a long-haul pre-season tour to New Zealand and Australia, which resulted in injuries to key players including Micky van de Ven, Domi Solanke, James Maddison, and Mateus Fernandes. “I said we started this season late for many, many reasons; too late,” De Zerbi explained, as reported by The Guardian. He also cited the late return of some players following the World Cup – which saw England Qualifies for World Cup 2026 Finals – and the late arrival of new signings Sávio and Omar Marmoush, who joined only ten days prior to his comments. The manager noted that he only began working with the “whole group” two Thursdays before the Everton game, affecting the team’s “right physical condition.”

On-Pitch Struggles and Player Interaction

Despite the overall frustration, De Zerbi noted a positive opening 30 minutes against Everton. However, he admitted that the team “ran out of steam” and “lost a little confidence” as the game progressed, particularly due to the failure to score. He emphasised the need for improvement in the final third, specifically regarding “the last decision, the last pass” and the imperative to “shoot more times.”

The match also saw a notable on-pitch discussion between De Zerbi and second-half substitute Mathys Tel at the final whistle. According to the London Evening Standard, De Zerbi “coached him on the pitch” about the body shape of a striker and the importance of looking at the goal, particularly as Tel had been brought on as a makeshift striker. This followed public criticism from De Zerbi regarding Tel’s performance against Nottingham Forest, which led to Tel being benched. Despite the animated exchange, De Zerbi insisted, “I love Mathys as a player, as a guy. There is not a problem.”

The team’s performance has drawn significant criticism, with Jamie Redknapp describing Tottenham as “diabolical” after their scoreless showing, as noted by The Independent. This sentiment was echoed by the returning “boo-boys” among the Tottenham faithful.

What’s Next for Spurs?

Tottenham faces the immediate challenge of overcoming their scoring drought and finding their first league win. De Zerbi’s comments suggest a multi-faceted approach is required, addressing both the psychological confidence of the players and their physical conditioning. The manager’s belief that extending their strong opening period to a full 90 minutes will lead to wins indicates a focus on sustained performance and clinical finishing in upcoming fixtures.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why does De Zerbi say Spurs have a ‘mental block’?

  Manager Roberto De Zerbi believes the team is experiencing a “mental block” because they have not won or scored in their first four league games, which he stated is “tough for the players.”

• What are Spurs’ current league statistics?

  After four Premier League games, Tottenham Hotspur is 17th in the table with two points, having drawn all four matches and failing to score any goals.

• What reasons did De Zerbi give for the slow start?

  De Zerbi cited injuries from a pre-season tour to New Zealand and Australia (affecting players like Micky van de Ven, Domi Solanke, James Maddison, and Mateus Fernandes), the late return of World Cup players, and the late signings of Sávio and Omar Marmoush as reasons for the team’s “late” start to the season and current physical condition.

• What happened between De Zerbi and Mathys Tel?

  After the Everton match, De Zerbi had a “heated discussion” with substitute Mathys Tel on the pitch, “coaching him” about a striker’s body shape and the need to look at the goal. De Zerbi clarified there was “not a problem” and that he “loves Mathys as a player, as a guy.”