Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi expressed regret following his team’s 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, which left Spurs at the bottom of the Premier League after two matches. Tottenham, who narrowly avoided relegation last season by finishing 17th, have started the campaign poorly, conceding five goals without scoring.
De Zerbi acknowledged the disappointment among supporters and addressed concerns about a repeat of last season’s struggles. Despite the setbacks, he stressed his confidence in the squad's potential, highlighting the significant investment made in the summer transfer window. Tottenham have spent nearly £400 million on new signings, including former Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali and Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush, as part of efforts to strengthen the team.
“We played better than Newcastle until the first goal,” De Zerbi said, reflecting on the match. He noted that Spurs created more chances and controlled possession early on but conceded that defensive lapses led to Newcastle’s breakthrough. After conceding, he added, the team lost confidence and failed to respond with the intensity he expects. “The reaction was not good enough, not the reaction I want to see on the pitch,” he said.
De Zerbi also addressed the absence of several players from the matchday squad. Midfielder Pape Matar Sarr, forward Richarlison, and defender Kevin Danso were all excluded after expressing a desire to leave the club. “Richarlison said too many times that he wanted to leave,” De Zerbi explained. “Danso came to me two days ago and said he wanted to leave. Sarr is in a similar situation and also had a minor injury but is close to returning to training.” The manager emphasized that while he maintains good relationships with the players, any departure would require a financial agreement that benefits the club.
Newcastle’s manager Matthias Jaissle praised his team’s performance, marking the victory as an important milestone after their opening fixture, a draw against Liverpool. “It was incredible and I’m really proud,” Jaissle said. “We are proud as a club and coaching staff to see a team executing the match plan at a high level with full commitment from the players.” He described the result as a positive start and a moment for the club to enjoy as they seek to build momentum in the Premier League campaign.