Tottenham’s £320m Gamble Faces Its First Big Test as De Zerbi Admits the Real Problem
Roberto De Zerbi has identified mentality as Tottenham Hotspur’s biggest challenge after another defeat left the heavily rebuilt side without a Premier League goal after two matches.
Tottenham Hotspur’s expensive summer rebuild has already encountered an uncomfortable reality: new players can change a squad, but they cannot instantly change a team’s habits.
That was the message from Roberto De Zerbi after Tottenham suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday, leaving Spurs bottom of the Premier League after losing their opening two matches without scoring.
The defeat came despite a first half in which Tottenham showed encouraging signs and created opportunities. Newcastle, however, became increasingly effective after the interval and eventually took control of the match through Anthony Elanga, before Yoane Wissa doubled the advantage.
For De Zerbi, the result exposed an issue that money alone cannot solve.
When asked whether mentality was the biggest problem facing him, the Tottenham manager gave a direct answer.
"Yes, you are right, for sure."
De Zerbi: Mentality Cannot Be Bought
Tottenham have invested heavily in their squad during the summer transfer window, spending around £320 million according to Sky Sports.
The club's recruitment has brought in a significant number of new players as De Zerbi attempts to reshape a side that finished 17th in each of the previous two Premier League seasons.
But the manager acknowledged that assembling a talented squad is only part of the process.
De Zerbi explained that mentality cannot simply be purchased in the transfer market and that bringing several new players together does not automatically create the balance required for a successful team.
His concern became particularly apparent after Newcastle scored.
Tottenham had competed well for long periods, but once they fell behind, they were unable to produce the response required to turn the game around.
That pattern is exactly what De Zerbi wants to eliminate.
Two Games, Two Defeats
The early Premier League statistics make uncomfortable reading for Spurs.
Tottenham opened their campaign with a 3-0 defeat away to Brentford and followed it with Saturday's 2-0 loss to Newcastle.
They have therefore conceded five goals without scoring once in their first two league matches.
The contrast is particularly striking because Tottenham had shown a different side of themselves in the Carabao Cup, where they recorded a 5-1 victory over Charlton Athletic.
The problem, therefore, is not simply that the squad lacks attacking or technical ability.
The challenge is translating that quality into consistent Premier League performances.
De Zerbi himself acknowledged that Tottenham's new squad needs time to develop the necessary balance.
He also maintained that he believes the project can succeed.
Carragher: Spurs' Start Could Hardly Be Worse
Jamie Carragher was considerably less forgiving in his assessment.
Speaking for Sky Sports, the former Liverpool defender described Tottenham's beginning to the campaign as a start that "couldn't have gone any worse."
Carragher nevertheless believes there is a logical explanation for some of Tottenham's difficulties.
A large number of new players have arrived, meaning De Zerbi is still attempting to determine the best combinations and establish how the different pieces fit together.
Carragher specifically pointed to the quality Tottenham have added in midfield, including Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, while suggesting that the club's recruitment is probably not finished.
He expects Tottenham to return to the transfer market before the window closes.
That expectation is significant because Spurs' poor opening results could encourage the club to make further moves rather than wait for the existing squad to settle.
The Newcastle Defeat Was Not Completely One-Sided
The scoreline does not tell the entire story.
Tottenham were the better side for stretches of the first half and had opportunities before Newcastle eventually broke the deadlock.
But Newcastle were more clinical when the important moments arrived.
Elanga opened the scoring in the second half, and Wissa later produced the second goal to put the result beyond Tottenham's reach.
The second goal also attracted criticism from Carragher, who questioned Tottenham's defensive response as Newcastle capitalised.
For De Zerbi, however, the bigger concern appeared to be what happened psychologically after the first goal.
Tottenham had to respond.
They did not.
A Squad Still Learning How to Play Together
There is an important distinction between a bad team and a team that has not yet become a good team.
Tottenham's summer recruitment suggests the club believes it has addressed major weaknesses in the squad.
But recruitment does not instantly create chemistry.
New players must understand one another's movements, learn the manager's system and develop trust in difficult moments.
That process becomes considerably harder when results go against the team.
And Tottenham are already experiencing that pressure.
The club's previous two league campaigns ended with 17th-place finishes, meaning De Zerbi inherited a side carrying considerable frustration and expectation.
The manager now has to change that environment while simultaneously integrating a large number of new signings.
Reuters described the Newcastle defeat as evidence of the scale of the challenge facing De Zerbi, particularly after Spurs collapsed in the second half despite showing promise earlier in the match.
More Transfer Business Could Follow
Carragher believes Tottenham are likely to continue working in the transfer market.
That would make sense given the circumstances.
The club has already spent heavily, but the early results have exposed areas where further adjustment may be required.
At the same time, Tottenham are dealing with uncertainty over several existing players.
After the Newcastle match, De Zerbi confirmed that Richarlison, Kevin Danso and Pape Matar Sarr had expressed a desire to leave the club.
That adds another layer of complexity to an already busy transfer window.
Spurs are therefore not simply trying to add players.
They may also need to manage departures while maintaining enough stability for De Zerbi to build his team.
The Pressure Is Real, But the Season Is Young
Two Premier League matches are not enough to determine the fate of an entire season.
Tottenham have a new manager, a heavily remodelled squad and several players still adapting to English football and De Zerbi's methods.
There is therefore a legitimate argument for patience.
But patience becomes harder to maintain when a club has spent hundreds of millions of pounds and begins the season with consecutive defeats and no goals.
That is the tension Tottenham now face.
The squad may eventually become the team De Zerbi wants.
The question is how long that transformation will take.
For now, the manager has identified the problem himself.
It is not simply tactics.
It is not simply recruitment.
It is mentality.
And unlike another transfer, that is something Tottenham cannot solve by simply opening the cheque book.
The next phase of De Zerbi's project will therefore be less about how much Tottenham can spend and more about whether he can turn a collection of expensive new signings into a side capable of responding when the pressure arrives.
The money has already been spent. Now Tottenham need to show what it can actually produce.
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