After a home defeat to Aston Villa, Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi said his side must get more out of forward Dominic Solanke, whose fitness has been questioned. The criticism comes as Spurs struggle to score, having failed to find the net in their opening four league games.
Roberto De Zerbi, Tottenham Hotspur’s head coach, used the post‑match press conference on 19 September to single out striker Dominic Solanke, saying the forward’s recent performances have not met the standards required at the club. According to a recent MSN report, De Zerbi warned that Solanke’s physical condition has been a concern and that the team needs "more" from him moving forward.
The comments arrive amid a historically poor start for the North London side. BBC Sport notes that Tottenham have failed to score in any of their first four Premier League fixtures this season – a first in the club’s 144‑year history. The lack of goals has left the team languishing near the bottom of the table and intensifies the pressure on De Zerbi to find "La Scintilla", the spark he referenced after the Carabao Cup exit.
Compounding the scoring woes, Spurs have been unable to overturn an early concession for 47 consecutive matches across all competitions, a streak that dates back to November 2024. The club’s extensive summer overhaul – with more than 20 new starters in the opening four games, a record‑high turnover highlighted by Opta – has not translated into immediate results. Only five of the eleven previous clubs to make such a wholesale change improved their league position the following season.
De Zerbi’s frustration was evident as he also criticized the overall team effort, urging his players to raise their intensity and physical readiness. While Solanke has contributed one goal in seven appearances, the forward’s output is deemed insufficient for a side desperate for its first league goal. The manager’s clear message sets a tone for the upcoming fixtures as Tottenham aim to break their goal drought and climb out of the relegation zone.