Roberto De Zerbi's concerns regarding Tottenham Hotspur's attacking capabilities were underscored during a recent 1-1 draw with Getafe, played behind closed doors at the club's training center. The match highlighted a need for more potent options in front of goal, a sentiment De Zerbi has previously expressed.
Conor Gallagher scored the equalizer for Spurs in the 70-minute practice match. While the team showed a positive immediate response after conceding and gained valuable match fitness in challenging heat, the lack of clinical finishing in the attacking third was evident. Manager De Zerbi has publicly emphasized his desire for more attacking reinforcements, and the performance against Getafe has likely reinforced these views.
Richarlison led the line, with Mathys Tel and Mikey Moore flanking him. Despite Richarlison being Tottenham's top scorer last season with 11 Premier League goals, he missed two clear chances in the second half, both saved by Getafe goalkeeper David Soria. Ben Davies also headed a first-half opportunity directly at Soria from an Andy Robertson free-kick.
Mikey Moore, a young winger, struggled to make a significant impact. Deployed on the right, he was unable to impose himself on the game, failing to capitalize on opportunities. Tel showed more effectiveness in the second half, hinting at developing an understanding with left-footed player Robertson.
Gallagher, however, provided a positive note by scoring the equalizer. He drove forward from midfield and finished decisively. Signed for £35 million in January, Gallagher is expected to benefit from De Zerbi's high-intensity style.
New signing Jan Paul van Hecke demonstrated his passing range from the back, aiming to initiate attacks. However, the Getafe goal came through his channel, with Lucas Bergvall losing track of his marker before Van Hecke was drawn out of position. Despite this, his ability to spark attacking patterns from deep appears to be a key element De Zerbi intends to utilize.
The match saw no substitutions made by De Zerbi during the 70 minutes, with senior players involved in another training game on Saturday. Several key players, including Martin Dubravka, Kevin Danso, Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr, Mateus Fernandes, James Maddison, and Dominic Solanke, were not involved in this specific fixture but are reportedly back in preseason training.
In a separate event, Xavi Simons hosted the family of George Dennis, an 11-year-old Spurs fan who tragically passed away. Simons, currently recovering from a knee injury, offered the family a tour of the training ground and presented them with gifts before they watched the match.