A Troubling Start for De Zerbi
The 2026/27 Premier League campaign has begun in difficult fashion for Tottenham Hotspur and manager Roberto De Zerbi. Following a 3-0 defeat to Brentford in their season opener, Spurs suffered a 2-0 home loss to Newcastle United on Saturday, leaving the club winless and without a goal after two fixtures. The defeat marked the first victory for new Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle, whose side showed a tactical clarity that currently eludes De Zerbi’s squad.
The Tactical Puzzle
De Zerbi’s selection against Newcastle raised immediate questions regarding his tactical approach. With injury concerns persisting, the manager deployed Pedro Porro in a wide attacking role rather than his traditional full-back position, while Archie Gray filled in at right-back. The attempt to press Newcastle was largely ineffective; at one point in the first half, a single pass from the visitors bypassed three Tottenham players, exposing a lack of cohesion in the team’s defensive structure.
This report draws on information published by The New York Times and Sky Sports.
While Newcastle utilized clear wide rotations and a compact defensive block, Tottenham struggled to establish a rhythm. New signing Omar Marmoush, who arrived on a season-long loan from Manchester City, provided a rare bright spot. Despite only arriving days before the match, he was the most dangerous player on the pitch, frequently dropping deep to drive at Newcastle’s center-backs. However, his individual efforts were not matched by his teammates, and De Zerbi admitted the side remains a work in progress.
Injury Impact and Squad Depth
The squad’s volatility has been exacerbated by fitness issues. Savio, who had impressed in a midweek Carabao Cup victory over Charlton Athletic, was sidelined for the Newcastle match due to muscle fatigue. Key figures including Kevin Danso, Richarlison, and Pape Matar Sarr were also absent, limiting De Zerbi’s ability to rotate his squad effectively. The manager is under pressure to integrate high-profile summer arrivals—including a midfield pair of Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali—into a functional unit that aligns with his high-intensity style.
The challenge for De Zerbi is now to stabilize the team before their upcoming trip to Nottingham Forest. Having spent heavily in the transfer market, the club’s leadership and supporters expect a swift transition from individual talent to collective performance. The contrast with Jaissle’s Newcastle, which has already established a clear identity despite the manager only being in the role for three weeks, highlights the urgency of the situation at Tottenham.