Tottenham Spend £303 Million but Score No Goals in Three Premier League Games: Why Is De Zerbi’s Tactics Struggling?

But this year feels different. Tottenham seem to have suddenly been caught by a spending fever, throwing money around without hesitation. The key reinforcements in midfield and attack alone, with the names of Tonali, Matheus Fernandes and Savio, have reached an initial combined transfer fee of £252.5 million. Tonali’s deal alone has a total value exceeding £100 million, putting his price tag among the highest for Premier League midfielders.

The defense was also strengthened, with Van Hecke brought in for £52 million, while experienced players such as Robertson, Senesi and Dubravka also joined the squad. The attack saw major investment as well, with Marmoush and Mudryk arriving on loan, clearly aiming to improve the team’s finishing ability in the final third. Looking at this squad, who would not feel Tottenham were ready to make something big happen this year?

But what is the reality? After three Premier League matches, Tottenham have drawn once and lost twice, earning no points and failing to score a single goal. This is not just an ordinary poor run; it is a remarkably difficult start rarely seen in the club’s history for decades. Spending £300 million but still being unable to win a match feels almost unreal.

Many people’s first reaction is whether these new signings were simply too expensive. But the money has already been spent, and the quality of the players cannot really be described as poor. So where is the problem? After carefully watching these matches, the writer believes there are three major reasons.

The most obvious issue is that the team has had too little time to gel. Many regular starters were replaced, with new faces making up more than half of the squad, and the season had already started before they had much systematic training together. The understanding needed for transitions between attack and defense cannot be built through just a few training sessions. Without enough tactical work, players appear to be doing their own things on the pitch, creating a chaotic situation despite the activity.

The midfield problem is especially clear. Tonali and Matheus Fernandes have some overlapping technical characteristics. Both are more creative, organizing midfielders with strong one-touch passing ability, but they can also end up trying to perform similar roles on the pitch. One wants to make forward runs while the other wants to receive the ball, leaving midfield coordination confused and responsibilities unclear.

More troubling is De Zerbi’s tactical system. This style requires extremely high levels of passing combinations and coordinated movement; it is not something that can work simply by buying talented players and putting them on the field. The buildup from the back often becomes stuck, midfield connections are frequently broken, and although the attack looks lively, there are few genuine patterns that threaten the goal.

Is De Zerbi a good coach? Yes, he made a name for himself in Serie A with Napoli. But Serie A and the Premier League have completely different rhythms. Individual ability, match intensity and physical battles in England are all at a much higher level. Even the best tactics are useless if players cannot execute them.

Looking at Tottenham’s current midfield, what they lack is not technical quality but players who can remain calm under intense pressing and still control and distribute the ball. Tonali is a good player, but this is his first experience in the Premier League and adaptation takes time. As for Matheus Fernandes, his characteristics may suit a single-pivot role better, and placing him centrally may actually limit his strengths.

The situation in attack is similar. Marmoush and Mudryk are both strong wide players with excellent speed and technical ability, but Tottenham lack a central focal point who can hold up play. Without a tall striker to create space, the room for wide players to cut inside after beating defenders becomes severely limited, making the attacking routes narrower and narrower.

You may ask why they do not adjust quickly. In fact, the coaching staff is trying to find solutions, but matches keep coming one after another. New signings have not yet fully understood their teammates’ movement patterns before being required to play again. In such circumstances, confidence can suffer, mistakes increase under pressure, and a negative cycle develops.

That said, is it too early to judge after only three matches? Tottenham’s results last season were not particularly impressive, but the current squad’s potential on paper has clearly improved. If they are given time and achieve better chemistry, a rebound is likely sooner or later.

What is truly concerning is the attitude of the management. After spending £300 million and making such a poor start, will the executives become anxious? Will they make another round of moves in the winter window? Frequent managerial changes or random recruitment would be the real disaster. Football can be unpredictable, but the logic of team building cannot be abandoned.

From the writer’s personal observation, what De Zerbi needs is not more money but patience and trust. This squad has potential; the key is whether he can allow the players to show their qualities on the pitch. If every defeat causes panic, the coach will not last long.

Tottenham fans are surely anxious now, because nobody wants to see the team continue like this. But especially in moments like this, calm analysis is needed. The £300 million investment has not been wasted; the returns simply have not appeared yet. Hopefully, after the winter window, fans will see a different Tottenham.

Ultimately, football has never been something that can be won simply by spending money. Chelsea and Manchester City are both examples showing that even when money is spent correctly, tactics, chemistry and mentality all need to work together. What Tottenham lack now is not money, but the execution needed to turn money into victories. Hopefully the team can return to form soon.