Tottenham have endured a goal drought in their opening three Premier League fixtures, marking the first time since the 1974-75 season that they have failed to find the net in their initial league games. This follows defeats to Brentford and Newcastle, with their latest match a goalless draw against Nottingham Forest.
Manager Roberto de Zerbi, whose side has seen 10 senior arrivals this summer, including Sandro Tonali, Jon Paul Van Hecke, Savio, and Omar Marmoush, has urged for patience. He stated, "We bought very, very good players but you can't just build the team with the names like in Football Manager." Spurs have spent over £300m on new players, contributing to a record £3.49bn Premier League outlay this summer.
Despite the lack of goals, De Zerbi expressed satisfaction with the team's performance against Forest, noting they were the better side and defended well. He highlighted the need for improvement in the final third, citing instances of poor decision-making. Former midfielder Danny Murphy echoed these sentiments, suggesting Spurs lacked calmness and composure in attacking areas.
Mykhailo Mudryk made his Premier League return for Spurs, coming off the bench after a four-year ban. De Zerbi acknowledged that Mudryk, along with Mathys Tel, needs time and work to develop their potential.