Tottenham’s expensive summer was meant to shut the door on last season’s relegation scare. Instead, after four Premier League fixtures, the familiar unease has returned to north London.
Spurs have taken only two points from a possible 12 and sit 17th in the table without a league win. It is early days, but supporters have recent experience of how quickly a difficult start can turn into a season spent looking over the shoulder.
Quick facts
- Tottenham spent €366.35m during the transfer window.
- Roberto De Zerbi’s side are 17th after four league matches.
- Spurs have collected two points and are still awaiting a Premier League victory.
- Liverpool knocked Tottenham out of the Carabao Cup with a 3-1 win on Tuesday.
- Richarlison has been kept out of the squad by De Zerbi.
The scale of the rebuild was supposed to provide reassurance. Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Savinho and Van Hecke were among those brought in as Tottenham committed €366.35m to the market.
That outlay followed a campaign in which Spurs flirted with the drop until the final day, only securing safety at the last. The intention was clear enough: avoid another spring of calculators, nervous glances at the table and talk of survival.
For now, however, the results have done little to settle the mood. Tottenham are also out of the Carabao Cup after Tuesday’s 3-1 defeat to Liverpool, an early exit which has added to the frustration even if it came against high-level opposition.
There is a further complication in the shape of Richarlison. De Zerbi confirmed on Monday that the Brazilian is currently excluded from his plans.
“He will not play even if he is available, not even in the Carabao Cup,” the Italian manager said.
Tottenham remain a long way from making firm predictions about their season, but the combination of a winless league start, cup elimination and an unresolved player situation has made the atmosphere twitchy. A victory is needed soon, before last year’s ghosts make themselves at home again at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
