Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has attributed the club's difficult start to the Premier League season to their pre-season tour of Australia. The team suffered a significant 3-0 defeat against Brentford in their opening match, marking one of their heaviest defeats in the Premier League era.
Brentford secured their victory with early goals from Keane Lewis-Potter and Vitaly Janelt, followed by a third from Michael Kayode shortly after halftime. This loss occurred despite Tottenham's substantial investment in squad overhauls, with several new players like Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson, and Marcos Senesi brought in, along with agreements for Savinho and Omar Marmoush.
De Zerbi apologized for the team's performance, acknowledging they were outplayed. He specifically linked the squad's subpar physical condition to their Australian trip in late July and early August, which he stated disrupted their ability to train effectively.
"We are not at the right point in physical condition for a lot of reasons," De Zerbi said. "The players, they came late after World Cup, because in Australia we couldn’t work in the right way for the trip. To [not] take risk."
Tottenham participated in the 2026 Sydney Super Cup, playing against Sydney FC on July 29 and Chelsea on August 1. De Zerbi had previously expressed concerns about the team being behind schedule ahead of their Premier League opener following a friendly against Hoffenheim.
He noted that Tottenham struggled against Brentford, losing too many duels, tackles, and second balls. The manager's comments on the Australian tour drew mixed reactions from supporters. Some criticized him for deflecting responsibility, with one fan writing, "He won’t last long. A coach takes responsibility." Others defended De Zerbi, questioning the value of extensive overseas tours for Premier League clubs shortly before the season begins.
"Any rational person will understand a team flying across the world for a few friendlies as they try to prepare physically for the toughest league in the world isn’t ideal," one supporter commented. Another fan suggested that financial incentives would ensure such tours continue despite their impact on performance.
Despite these challenges, De Zerbi maintained his belief in his players but admitted that Tottenham is not yet a cohesive team. He emphasized that new signings require time to develop the necessary connections, spirit, and playing identity to succeed in the Premier League.