Tottenham are still searching for their first Premier League goal of the season after a 0-0 draw with Everton left Roberto De Zerbi’s side without a win in four league outings.
Spurs and Coventry City are now the only two sides in the 92 teams across the top flight, Championship, League One and League Two without a goal in their respective league this season, and the alarm bells are growing louder given the outlay on midfield and attacking signings in North London this summer.
|
Player |
Fee |
Form in all competitions |
|---|---|---|
|
Sandro Tonali |
£100m |
4 games, 0 goals, 0 assists |
|
Mateus Fernandes |
£85m |
5 games, 0 goals, 1 assist |
|
Savio |
£75m |
3 games, 1 goal, 1 assist |
|
Omar Marmoush |
Loan |
3 games, 0 goals, 0 assists |
|
Mykhailo Mudryk |
Loan |
1 game, 0 goals, 0 assists |
None of the big-money arrivals have been able to find their feet in attack, and the goal drought is starting to define the start of De Zerbi’s tenure. Speaking after the Everton stalemate, the Italian was asked how his side goes about breaking the deadlock.
“I think there is a word in Italian that literally translates as if we ‘unblock’ ourselves,” he said. “I think the team is extremely strong and we can score goals, and we can win games. Then we have to respect the history of the players in their careers. Forget Solanke or Marmoush. The other players, they didn’t score many, many goals in their career and we have to find these goals.
“I think we can find the goals with the quality of the play, with the full-backs, because we have great full-backs. Robertson today played very well. I don’t know if we believe on the cross and we prepared the game exactly in that way.”
Pressed further on the run without a win, De Zerbi didn’t shy away from the scale of the problem.
“A mental block, because four games, no wins, any goals scored,” he admitted. “It is tough also for the players because they are human and they are very good guys, and I asked them to follow me because if last season I was positive, I can’t understand why I cannot be the same this season.”
The manager also bristled at what appeared to be a full-time confrontation with winger Mathys Tel, but it was his next comments that have caused a stir back in Italy.
Turning the conversation towards his own domestic reputation, he pointed out that a lack of goals has at least come with defensive solidity, and suggested his home nation would be judging him rather differently.
“For example, in Italy, I should be the best coach, no? Two games, two clean sheets. What would La Gazzetta dello Sport write? Two clean sheets. What are you going to write tomorrow – a clean sheet or no goals? Tell me what you actually want to write.”
That line hasn’t gone down well at home. One of the country’s top newspapers, Il Messaggero, has hit back directly, suggesting the former Brighton boss won’t have to worry about it for “much longer” with his position in North London now seen as being in “serious trouble”, hinting that Spurs’ faith in the manager may not last to see a turnaround in form (via Sport Witness).
It leaves De Zerbi facing a defining week.
Tottenham travel to face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup, with Andoni Iraola’s side themselves toiling for form in front of goal this season, being held to a limp 0-0 draw at home against Fulham over the weekend.
Tottenham haven’t won against Liverpool at Anfield since May 2011, when goals from Rafael van der Vaart and Luka Modric gave Harry Redknapp’s side a 2-0 win.
It’s a fixture that offers De Zerbi a genuine opportunity – a chance to freshen up his selection, hand a route back into the side for those short of confidence, and produce the kind of statement performance that could ease the mounting pressure – and start winning back a fanbase growing restless for signs of progress under him.