Roberto De Zerbi Reportedly Frustrated as Pressure Builds at Tottenham
Roberto De Zerbi is reportedly becoming increasingly frustrated with life at Tottenham after a disappointing opening to the new Premier League campaign.
Spurs remain without a win or a goal after three league matches, with their latest setback coming in a goalless draw against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on September 5.
The result has only intensified the frustration among Tottenham supporters, who are beginning to question De Zerbi’s decisions, tactics and overall style of play.
Former Tottenham scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that De Zerbi is “clearly unhappy” with the club’s poor start, although he believes the manager must also accept some responsibility for the situation.
De Zerbi has already questioned his players’ mentality and admitted there is still significant work to be done before Tottenham begin producing the results expected of them.
That message may not sit well with supporters, particularly after the club’s disappointing back-to-back 17th-place finishes. With expectations rising following a huge summer transfer spend, fans are becoming less willing to accept excuses.
Could Tottenham Really Sack De Zerbi?
Former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness previously suggested that Tottenham are unlikely to dismiss De Zerbi anytime soon, particularly after investing more than £300 million on new signings during the summer.
However, the enormous spending has also increased the pressure on the manager, with supporters expecting to see a significant improvement on the pitch.
As frustration continues to grow and De Zerbi has publicly expressed his disappointment, concerns are emerging that the situation could deteriorate quickly if results do not improve.
Brown said:
«“There is a lot of expectation on Roberto De Zerbi to turn around Tottenham’s fortunes.”»
He argued that the players also deserve significant criticism, pointing out that many members of the current squad were part of teams that finished 17th in consecutive seasons.
Brown added that while there are clearly major problems within the squad, Tottenham’s huge investment should have helped address some of those weaknesses.
At the same time, he believes De Zerbi cannot completely escape responsibility.
If Tottenham are struggling to score, failing to perform and unable to collect points, the manager will inevitably face much of the criticism.
Brown also claimed De Zerbi is already feeling the pressure because expectations are extremely high and results have not yet matched them.
The former scout was particularly concerned by De Zerbi’s public criticism of his players, suggesting that openly blaming members of the squad is rarely a good sign.
According to Brown, similar situations involving previous Tottenham managers have often ended badly.
Will Tottenham Give De Zerbi Enough Time?
De Zerbi’s appointment raised plenty of eyebrows when he arrived at Tottenham during last season’s relegation battle.
The 47-year-old signed a five-year contract in North London, despite having a history of leaving previous positions earlier than expected.
Despite Tottenham’s difficult start, Wyness has suggested that the club’s hierarchy remains prepared to give De Zerbi time to turn things around.
Having helped Tottenham avoid relegation last season, the manager still has considerable goodwill from the board, which could work in his favour.
Pressure is certainly mounting, but there is currently no strong indication that Tottenham are preparing to sack De Zerbi immediately.
However, with Spurs still searching for their first goal and victory of the Premier League season, another run of poor results could quickly change the mood around the club.
