De Zerbi learns cash alone cannot fix Spurs' losing mentality

Roberto De Zerbi's Tottenham Hotspur began their Premier League campaign with a sobering defeat, underscoring that even substantial financial investment cannot instantly cure a deep-seated "losing mentality." The Italian manager, who took over in March and was tasked with steering Spurs away from relegation, achieved that goal but only narrowly. Now, with a significant transfer budget to rebuild the squad, the team's performance against Brentford revealed that vast sums of money do not guarantee mental fortitude.

The manner of the capitulation was particularly concerning. Spurs appeared to fold at the first sign of pressure, allowing Brentford to dominate and expose a lack of basic resilience. Despite changes in transfer strategy and personnel, the new-look Spurs resembled the old Spurs, dismantled easily in the opening match. De Zerbi, who admitted his role had been more psychologist than coach previously, faces a similar challenge again.

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Bad game. We lost and suffered the difference in the duels. It was the key of this game. We didn't fight in the right way. Maybe credit to them because it's the best quality Brentford have.

While De Zerbi pointed to potential physical conditioning issues for players returning late from the World Cup or new signings, he conceded that this did not excuse the fundamental shortcomings. "We didn't fight in the right way. Maybe credit to them because it's the best quality Brentford have," he told BBC Sport's Match of the Day. He emphasized the need to analyze the game better, stating, "we can't play this way in this type of game."

The optimism among Spurs fans at the Gtech Community Stadium quickly evaporated. The team's poor performance led to some supporters leaving as early as the 49th minute. New signings, including Andrew Robertson, Marcos Senesi, Jan Paul van Hecke, and Sandro Tonali, were given debuts but failed to distinguish themselves in a chastening day for the club. The defeat served as a stark reminder that rebuilding a team's mental strength requires more than just new players and a large transfer fund.

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Our physical condition was not in the right level for all players because many came later after the World Cup and there were many new players in the squad and first XI. But we have to analyse this game better because we can't play this way in this type of game.