De Zerbi blames defending and intensity after Villa loss
- Source
- football.londonLocal press
- By
- football.london@trinitymirror.com (Alasdair Gold)
- Published
Key points
- De Zerbi took responsibility for defensive lapses, particularly the first goal conceded with 10 men during Van de Ven's injury treatment
- Coach highlighted Villa's increased use of long balls (86% more than last season) as a tactical problem Spurs failed to address
- De Zerbi questioned Kudus's intensity in the No. 10 role, explaining the half-time switch to Mateus Fernandes
Summary
De Zerbi expressed frustration at his post-match press conference following Saturday's 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa, acknowledging Spurs' dominance in the first half but focusing on defensive breakdowns. He was particularly critical of the goal conceded while a man down, insisting the team should have stayed compact and communicated better. The manager also pointed to Villa's tactical shift towards long balls and Spurs' failure to prepare adequately, referencing similar issues in the Newcastle match. On his half-time substitution, De Zerbi explained he doubted Kudus could maintain the intensity required at No. 10 compared to Mateus Fernandes or Gallagher.
Original headline
Every word De Zerbi said on why Tottenham didn't sign a striker and Tel absence
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