Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has publicly criticized his team's expensive attacking unit after they failed to score for the third consecutive Premier League match, resulting in a 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest. The club's attacking players, valued at a combined £165 million, have yet to find the back of the net this season, a statistic De Zerbi described as needing significant improvement.
"In the last third we have to improve," De Zerbi stated. "We have to improve and take better decisions, make [us] keep calmer when we are close to doing something important in the final third." He pointed to specific instances of missed opportunities, including passes and shots that did not result in effective scoring chances.
The manager also addressed the substitutions of Savio, who was making his Premier League debut after a £75 million transfer, and Destiny Udogie. De Zerbi explained these changes were made based on advice from the club's medical staff due to concerns about their physical condition. "There was a plan not to take risks," he said. "I'm not happy. But football is like this. Savio has not the best physical condition to play 90 minutes. He's an important player for us, a crucial player. Destiny is another crucial player for us."
Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest manager Oliver Glasner voiced his displeasure with VAR after a potential go-ahead goal by Neco Williams was disallowed. The goal was initially awarded by referee Craig Pawson but overturned by VAR, which determined that Sandro Tonali's clearance had struck Williams' arm before entering the net. Glasner argued that the decision was not clear and obvious, expressing concern that such interventions undermine referees.
"I have watched it back to see all the angles, five or six different ones," Glasner said. "From one angle, you can guess that the ball touched the arm as the shirt sleeve moves, but it’s not clear why. So if we are guessing, VAR cannot intervene. It’s not clear and obvious and we were told before the season the threshold (for intervention) should be very high."
Williams also commented on the disallowed goal, stating, "It's a goal. VAR is there when there is a clear and obvious error and for me that is not clear and obvious. I've seen the images and the replays and at not one moment did I think I handballed it. I headed it in between my arms."
The draw at the City Ground means Tottenham has failed to score in their opening three games of the season, a drought not experienced since 1974. Despite securing a point, both managers expressed dissatisfaction with the match's outcome and officiating decisions.