Tottenham They have gone three league games without scoring to start a season for the first time in over 50 years after Roberto De Zerbi’s side were Nottingham Forest’s goalless draw.
Spurs were the better team for much of the contest at the City Ground but could not find a way through, leaving them just one point off the top three. Premier League matches
Defeats against Brentford and Newcastle had already left Tottenham under pressure, and another clean sheet means they have now failed to score in their opening three league games for the first time since 1974-75.
De Zerbi urged patience after the game as Tottenham brought in 10 senior players over the summer as they attempt to build a new-look squad.
“We bought very, very good players, but you can’t build the team with names like Football Manager,” he told Sky Sports.
“We are disappointed with the result but very happy with the performance, considering that we started working together last Thursday for the first time, for the first day.
“We need to improve in all parts of football, the organization with and without the ball. Even today I thought we defended very well.
“We have to work because I think we played very well with the ball, we found the solution. I think we can be much better in the last third.”
De Zerbi calls for better decisions
The Tottenham manager was particularly frustrated by the decisions his players made when they got into dangerous positions.
An example came in the second half when Omar Marmoush opted to throw rather than play the ball to Andy Robertson, who had made an overlapping run, or Mohammed Kudus at the far post.
De Zerbi believes those moments will improve as his new-look team develops a better understanding.
“I think we played well, in the last third we have to improve, we have to make better decisions, maybe be calmer when we are close to doing something important,” he said.
“The chance when Marmoush shot, we had Robertson overlapping. If we make the right decision and if we play Robertson at the second post, Kudus will score.
“I am very happy with the spirit, with the organization, their style of play is very clear, long ball and second ball, even the second ball we won many duels. They are good players.
“Holding on for a point in this stadium is not that easy. We’re not happy because we didn’t win, but that’s the right spirit and the right way to move forward at the moment.”