It’s turning out to be a not-so-good day if you’re a Tottenham Hotspur supporter. In his press conference following Tottenham’s 0-2 home loss to Newcastle, manager Roberto De Zerbi eliminated all doubt about the absences of Richarlison, Kevin Danso, and Pape Matar Sarr from today’s matchday squad, saying all three have come to him over the past few days and asked to leave the club.
“Richarlison, I don’t know. He said too many times he wants to leave. Danso came to me two days ago and he said wants to leave and Pape
Sarr, the same but he suffer a small injury but he is almost ready to train.
“I love these players, they are great guys, I have very good relationships, but if they want to leave, they have to bring the solution, the economic solution, to the club, and they can go, and we find other players.”
The only real surprise here is Kevin Danso. We wrote yesterday how Sunderland had a loan request for Danso rejected by Spurs, which kinda came out of the blue as there were no indications that Big Kev wanted out of the club. But now it seems he does after apparently sliding down the pecking order in central defense. Or maybe he’s just tired of losing and wants to go somewhere for a fresh start. Pape Sarr has also been linked with a move away; latest rumors are that Juventus are now in the frame for him along with Galatasaray and English clubs like Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace.
As for Richy… well. I love the guy, he’s probably my favorite player over the past few years and it would suck to once again lose our leading scorer from the year prior, but it does seem clear at this point that he’s at least conflicted about what he wants to do and likely just needs a change. I get that. If he goes I’ll miss him dearly.
None of this means that all or even any of them will actually leave, but it seems likely that the club will now entertain offers for them. Hopefully we have a plan. We DO have a plan, right?
Elsewhere, De Zerbi spoke about his disappointment with today’s result against Toon, but asked everyone for patience as the team learns and gels, and said he has no doubt that this group of Spurs players can develop into an excellent football team.
“I’m disappointed for the result, and I’m sorry for the fans, for the environment, because after two defeats, maybe somebody can think it’s the same story, the same as the last two seasons. I have no doubt it’s not like this. I think I can’t change my opinion after two defeats.
“I have a big, big confidence in the qualities of my players. At the end, when we become a team, when we improve the connection between the players, when we improve the quality of the play, when we improve the defensive space, the distances between the attackers, defenders, midfielders, when we create a team, this group, with me or with another coach, nothing changes, because they are too good players.
“I’m sorry for the club, because they are building a great squad, but maybe now we are not ready yet, for many, many reasons. We are not ready yet, for many reasons, but today, I think, until the first goal, we played better than Newcastle. Newcastle is a good team, good coach, good player, good at everything, but we created more chances to score, we shot more times, we had the control of the ball more than Newcastle.
“We suffered too much in two or three situations in the first half, because the distance between the attackers and defenders was too big, too much space, and then after the goal we conceded, I think we lost the confidence. The reaction was not good enough, not the reaction I want to see on the pitch, and I said immediately after the end of the game, the players, because when you are building something new, it’s tough, there are problems, the difference is how you want to find the solution of these problems, and the solution is not to put down the head, but to react, because we had 20 minutes again to score one, two or maybe three goals.”
Patience is a virtue, one that is, unsurprisingly, in very short supply amongst football fans, and especially Tottenham fans. This club is far, far from its apex when it made the Champions League final and nearly won the Premier League under Mauricio Pochettino. That doesn’t mean that the team can’t reach those heights again, but it will take time, and the players need to learn how to win.
“[Mentality] is the biggest problem, it’s the biggest challenge and it’s the biggest target to find the right mentality. Unfortunately, you can’t buy the mentality in the transfer market or putting many players inside. Football is like a magic thing, you know? You can change many players in a window, in one window of transfer market and you can find the balance immediately or you need more time. I think we (will) achieve this target and this goal. I would like to achieve this target quickly and as soon as possible because it is crucial to play football, but the plan and the project of the club and what we are doing to build and rebuild a new team with great players is a great plan and a great project.
“I have no doubt the result of this project. We have to accept and to be stronger to move on after this defeat. I think in the first half, if we scored two goals today, now we would have talked about different things, unfortunately we lost the game, and you know in Italian, who wins, celebrates and who loses, explain why and then explain why.”
Tottenham have a solid week off to train and work before their next match, away at Nottingham Forest on Saturday, September 5.
