'Not Football Manager' - De Zerbi says misfiring Spurs need time

What the report says

Tottenham’s slow start in the Premier League continued with a goalless draw at Nottingham Forest, leaving Roberto de Zerbi’s side without a league goal after three games. The BBC Sport report says Spurs have now opened a top-flight season without scoring in their first three matches for the first time since 1974-75, following defeats to Brentford and Newcastle and then a point at the City Ground.

De Zerbi urged patience, saying the club’s large summer rebuild means the squad still needs time to develop understanding and a clear identity. BBC Sport noted that Spurs spent heavily on new players this summer, with several of the latest arrivals starting at Forest. De Zerbi said the team are still working on organisation, decision-making and composure in the final third, while also praising the overall performance and defensive effort.

The match itself offered few clear chances for Spurs, who did not have a shot on target in a Premier League game for the first time since April 2022, according to BBC Sport. Nottingham Forest had a second-half goal ruled out after a VAR review, which preserved Spurs’ first league point of the campaign. The article also highlighted that Mykhailo Mudryk made his Premier League return as a substitute, while De Zerbi stressed that some players will need time to settle after injuries and late arrivals.