Cole and Gerrard Raise Fresh Relegation Concerns for Struggling Tottenham
Tottenham’s difficult start to the season has taken another worrying turn following their defeat to Aston Villa — their fourth loss in just five Premier League matches.
After finishing 17th in each of the previous two seasons, Spurs invested heavily during the summer in an attempt to avoid another relegation battle. However, the new-look squad has yet to produce the expected improvement, leaving manager Roberto De Zerbi under increasing pressure.
Tottenham reportedly spent more than £300 million on new players, including Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Jan Paul van Hecke and Omar Marmoush. Despite late goals from Conor Gallagher and van Hecke against Villa, Spurs were unable to avoid another defeat.
Speaking on TNT Sports, former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole questioned Tottenham’s recruitment and warned that another relegation battle could not be completely ruled out. He criticised the team’s defensive vulnerability and lack of attacking threat, while also highlighting van Hecke’s struggles against Nicolas Jackson despite the defender scoring.
Cole argued that when a tactical system leaves centre-backs exposed, those defenders must be capable of winning individual battles. He felt Spurs failed to do that against Villa and suggested their defensive problems, combined with their struggles in front of goal, could make it a difficult campaign.
Steven Gerrard also acknowledged Tottenham’s problems but was more complimentary about their midfield. He believes Tonali, Fernandes and Rodrigo Bentancur give Spurs a strong midfield base, while suggesting Gallagher was also deserving of a starting role.
For Gerrard, the bigger concern is Tottenham’s defence. He questioned how the team can avoid conceding when centre-backs struggle to deal with straightforward long balls. He also highlighted Spurs’ lack of a proven goalscorer, despite having several talented attacking players.
Gerrard questioned who in the squad is capable of scoring around 20 goals this season, warning that Tottenham’s attacking issues could become a major problem if their defensive weaknesses continue.
Spurs have managed just one competitive victory this season — a 5-1 Carabao Cup win over Charlton Athletic — before being eliminated by Liverpool.
With pressure mounting, De Zerbi now faces a major challenge to improve Tottenham’s results and prevent their poor start from developing into an even bigger crisis.
