Roberto De Zerbi tears into Spurs after Villa loss, warns stars

Roberto De Zerbi let rip at his Tottenham flops after a 3‑0 home defeat to Aston Villa on 19 September 2026, a result that will leave Spurs marooned in the Premier League drop zone for the next three weeks.

De Zerbi described the performance as "very disappointed, very sad, very frustrated" and singled out the team’s defensive fragility. He noted that the first goal arrived while the side were reduced to ten men after Micky van de Ven required treatment for a facial cut following a clash with Tyrone Mings. The coach said he could not understand why the side conceded in that one‑minute period.

Defensive frailty exposed

In the second half, Nicolas Jackson struck on the break at the start of the period, a goal De Zerbi called "incredible" and "unacceptable". At minute 51 the manager addressed the four attackers, urging them to "use their heads, be calm" and to enjoy the game without taking unnecessary risks. A potential equaliser from Kudus was ruled out by VAR for off‑side, and the visitors soon extended their lead to 2‑0.

Late goals seal Villa's dominance

Villa were already 3‑0 up in the 86th minute and continued to threaten, adding two late goals that gave the visitors a little respectability despite the heavy scoreline. De Zerbi warned that Aston Villa were playing 86 per cent more long balls than the previous season, a tactic that exposed Tottenham’s lack of compact defending.

De Zerbi's player demands

The boss demanded more from Dominic Solanke, saying the striker’s physical condition and confidence were not good enough and that he needed to "stay better, to feel better". He also criticised £85 million summer signing Mateus Fernandes, stating, "I have a big confidence in Mateus, but I didn’t like his performance… we need more from Mateus". Mathys Tel was dropped for "technical reasons" and the manager stressed the need for leadership on the pitch.

Transfer window grievances

De Zerbi vented about a "long" transfer market hampered by Financial Fair Play constraints, admitting the club failed to sell players they had intended to and could not secure a reliable goalscorer. He said many reasons lay behind the lack of different decisions, adding that the club and coach knew the players’ characteristics but were limited by the circumstances.

Spurs remain winless after five Premier League games, and the defeat deepens their isolation in the relegation zone for the coming three weeks. De Zerbi concluded that football, like life, demands strength, and he pledged to work harder to improve the side’s balance and resilience.