De Zerbi backs Spurs forwards to find form despite barren start
Roberto De Zerbi says he remains confident Tottenham’s forwards will find their form, even as Spurs head into Tuesday’s Carabao Cup third-round tie against Liverpool without a Premier League goal this season.
Tottenham have taken only two points from their opening four league matches and drew 0-0 with Everton at the weekend. The result extended their scoreless league start to four games, the longest such run at the beginning of a season in the club’s history.
The poor return has increased pressure on De Zerbi after Tottenham brought in 10 new players during the summer transfer window.
Richarlison’s absence has added another problem. The Brazil forward was left out of Tottenham’s Premier League squad and a late transfer did not materialise.
De Zerbi confirmed on Monday that Richarlison will not return for Liverpool’s visit, and said the situation has not changed.
“It's the same situation,” De Zerbi told reporters. “At the start of this season, I spoke with him many times to convince him to stay, but he didn't want to. I can't pray every day for him to stay.”
Richarlison has a good record against Liverpool, with four goals in seven appearances against Tuesday’s opponents. Tottenham will have to cope without him again, but De Zerbi believes the current attacking group has enough quality to improve.
Dominic Solanke, summer arrivals Savio and Omar Marmoush, plus Mohammed Kudus, Conor Gallagher and Mathys Tel, have yet to make a major impact in the final third during the opening weeks. De Zerbi said the issue is partly one of fitness and adaptation.
“Solanke is a good player, and I’m sure he needs to improve his fitness and stay positive,” De Zerbi said. “He has the ability to score a lot of goals for us.”
The Spurs manager also pointed to the different demands now placed on Savio and Marmoush. Both arrived after limited opportunities at Manchester City, where they were not regular central figures.
“Savio and Marmoush didn't play much at Manchester City because they weren't key players,” De Zerbi said. “Here the situation is different. They have more responsibility. They have to adapt and understand that the situation is changing, but in terms of quality, both players are very good.”
Tottenham will also be without record signing Sandro Tonali through injury. De Zerbi confirmed that Dejan Kulusevski and Pedro Porro remain sidelined as well.
The Liverpool match gives Tottenham a chance to reset after a poor league start, but it also gives De Zerbi fewer options. He needs his attackers to turn encouraging moments into goals. For now, the manager is backing them to do so.
