Whilst many have berated the idea of a three-week international break, Roberto De Zerbi should be among those relieved. His Tottenham Hotspur side have needed a break since the season commenced, despite welcoming reinforcements worth more than £300m in the summer.
The Lilywhites have somehow declined positionally after last season and now sit 20th, albeit having played just five games. Whilst De Zerbi will be glad that Spurs finally found the back of the net for the first time in the league last time out, defeat against Aston Villa just about summed things up.
The Italian must get his side to click sooner rather than later if he wants to avoid facing the sack and if Spurs want to avoid a third-straight relegation battle.
After the international break, those in North London will square off against Coventry City. On paper, it’s a game that they should be winning with much-needed ease. After the Sky Blues defeated Nottingham Forest last time out, however, things may not be so simple.
Defeat against the newly-promoted side would raise significant questions about De Zerbi from even the most optimistic fans, who know that the threat of relegation can become all too real all too quickly.
The bad news for De Zerbi is that a handful of his players who have travelled to take part in the international break are still struggling to find their feet even away from Tottenham. Jan Paul van Hecke has even faced criticism from local outlets in the Netherlands.
Dutch outlet slams “sloppy” Van Hecke
After arriving for as much as £52m in the summer, many were expecting far more from Van Hecke at this stage.
With Premier League experience under his belt, and experience working with De Zerbi, the expectation was that he would hit the ground running and help end Tottenham’s woes.
The reality couldn’t be more different, however. Spurs have conceded eight goals in five Premier League games and Van Hecke particularly struggled against Aston Villa last time out.
The defender’s form hasn’t changed on international duty, either. After starting in a 2-1 victory over Serbia, marking Xavi’s first win as Netherlands manager, Van Hecke received criticism from Dutch outlet Voetbal Primeur.
“He does not yet seem to have shaken off the slump at Tottenham Hotspur with the Oranje. Van Hecke was sloppy in his forward passing on several occasions and was not entirely focused defensively either.”
After failing to win a single tackle, it may seem tough to argue against that verdict. But aside from that statistic, Van Hecke performed relatively well – making the most defensive contributions and the most passes on the pitch,
If he brings that level of performance back to North London, then Van Hecke may begin to pay back the £52m that Spurs splashed out to secure his signature in the summer.