De Zerbi warns Tottenham’s big spend needs time after Brentford drubbing
Roberto De Zerbi apologised after Tottenham Hotspur opened the 2026‑27 Premier League campaign with a crushing 3‑0 defeat at Brentford on 22 August 2026, a result that highlighted the challenges facing the big‑spending Spurs as they begin a new project.
The fixture marked the opening day of the Premier League season. Tottenham had arrived on the back of a period of heavy investment in the transfer market.
The report was filed by MATT BARLOW, FOOTBALL WRITER, on 22 August 2026. He recorded the immediate reaction from De Zerbi after the opening‑day loss.
First‑half expectations
De Zerbi admitted his side "did not fight in the right way", "lost too many duels" and "made a lot of mistakes". He also noted that Tottenham must improve their physical condition and organisation. The starting eleven featured five debutants: Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Jan Paul van Hecke, Marcos Senesi and Andrew Robertson.
At the break, Lucas Bergvall and Conor Gallagher were taken off after Bergvall lost a vital tackle in the build‑up to Brentford’s second goal. De Zerbi defended Bergvall, saying he did not play badly and would learn from the mistake.
Second‑half turning points
Brentford’s Igor Thiago missed a penalty while Mamadou Sangare impressed on his debut for the Bees. The match report lists Keane Lewis‑Potter, Vitaly Janelt and Michael Kayode as the goal scorers. De Zerbi reiterated that the side is still forming a cohesive unit.
Brentford manager Keith Andrews praised Sangare, calling his performance "pretty impressive on a lot of fronts" and highlighting the club’s effort to secure his signature. Andrews added that Sangare’s energy and quality suited the Premier League intensity.
"I am sorry for the defeat. We didn’t play well. We played very bad. We are not a team yet for a lot of reasons," De Zerbi said. He stressed belief in his players, saying the squad needs time to develop the soul, style and physical condition required to become dangerous.