No wins in five matches, De Zerbi targets Palhinha and sees his job under threat

Tottenham suffered their third defeat in five Premier League matches on Saturday, losing at home to Aston Villa. With only two points on the board, the Spurs occupy 18th place and have already slipped into the relegation zone at the start of the season.

Roberto De Zerbi acknowledged his team’s shortcomings in a press conference, without sparing himself: “We cannot say that everything is bad, but it is not enough,” said the Italian manager, insisting he assumes his “responsibilities”. He quickly turned his criticism towards the squad, however. “We must defend compactly. The leaders must be leaders and must guide the team,” he insisted.

The former Olympique de Marseille manager then singled out Mateus Palhinha, signed this summer from West Ham for close to one hundred million euros. “I did not like Mateus’s performance today. We need him to give more,” De Zerbi said, publicly calling out the Portuguese international whose integration has been slow to take effect.

Pressure is now mounting on the manager, appointed to the Tottenham bench before the start of the season. Several names are already circulating behind the scenes for a possible succession: Kieran McKenna, Mauricio Pochettino and Eddie Howe are notably mentioned. The international break opening in the coming days could prove decisive for De Zerbi’s future at the helm of the Spurs.