Roberto De Zerbi critiques Tottenham’s decision making after goalless draw extends historic drought

Tottenham Hotspur have now gone four Premier League matches without scoring a single goal. That’s over 400 minutes of football with nothing to show for it on the scoreboard, and head coach Roberto De Zerbi has identified the culprit: his own players’ brains.

Following a 0-0 draw against Everton, De Zerbi publicly called out his squad’s decision-making in the final third, singling out moments where players chose the wrong option when it mattered most. One particular sequence involving club-record signing Sandro Tonali, who opted against pulling the trigger when a shooting opportunity presented itself, appeared to crystallize the Italian manager’s frustrations.

Four matches, zero goals, one very expensive problem

Tottenham haven’t gone four consecutive league matches without scoring in a Premier League season in 20 years. De Zerbi’s side are winless through four matches of the 2026-27 campaign.

The manager acknowledged the offensive void but tried to frame the situation with some nuance. He pointed to two clean sheets in recent matches as evidence that the team’s defensive structure has genuinely improved. The problem, he argued, isn’t about effort or tactical shape. It’s about what happens in the moments that actually decide football matches.

Crosses going to the wrong spot. Shots not being taken when they should be. De Zerbi wants more composure near the goal.

The Tonali question

At the center of this conversation sits Sandro Tonali, the midfielder Tottenham signed from Newcastle for a club-record fee of £100 million during the summer transfer window. De Zerbi personally pursued the Italian international, viewing him as the connective tissue his system needed to function at the highest level.

Tonali’s physical condition has come under scrutiny since his arrival in north London. When presented with what appeared to be a clear opportunity to shoot against Everton, Tonali chose a different option. De Zerbi noticed.

Earlier in the season, De Zerbi had already stepped in to defend his record signing following a below-par display, stressing the importance of mental fortitude and calling for improved attacking combinations around him.

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