Tottenham Hotspur’s difficult start to the Premier League season continued with a goalless draw against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, leaving Roberto De Zerbi’s side still searching for their first league goal.
Spurs have now failed to score in their opening three league matches, a sequence they had not experienced since the 1974-75 season.
The draw at the City Ground ended a run of defeats against Brentford and Newcastle but left Tottenham with only one point from their first three games.
Spurs still adapting to major squad overhaul
Tottenham were arguably the better team for long periods but lacked the cutting edge required to turn their possession and chances into goals. Their struggles come after a summer in which the club invested heavily in rebuilding the squad.
De Zerbi has had to integrate several new players, making patience a key part of his message after Saturday’s stalemate.
“We bought very, very good players but you can’t just build the team with the names like in Football Manager,” the Tottenham manager told Sky Sports.
“We have to improve in every part of football, organisation with and without the ball.”
The Italian believes his players showed encouraging signs in possession and defensive organisation but acknowledged that their work in the final third must improve.
Tottenham’s failure to score has been particularly striking given their attacking investment. They have registered 38 league shots this season, producing an expected goals figure of 3.3.
De Zerbi demands better decisions in attack
One of the clearest examples came when Omar Marmoush chose to shoot instead of finding Andy Robertson, who had made an overlapping run, with Mohammed Kudus also available at the far post.
De Zerbi said his players must remain calmer when opportunities develop around the penalty area.
“I think we played well, in the last third we have to improve, we have to take better decisions, maybe keep calmer when we are close to doing something important,” he said.
Former Premier League midfielder Danny Murphy similarly identified Tottenham’s decision-making as a major concern, saying the team often rushed attacks instead of making the extra pass.
Tottenham also had a scare when Neco Williams appeared to put Forest ahead, only for the goal to be ruled out by VAR.
De Zerbi also handed Mykhailo Mudryk his first Premier League appearance for Tottenham after his deadline-day loan move from Chelsea. The winger was introduced in the second half as the manager looks to gradually integrate another new arrival.