Here's every word the Tottenham Hotspur head coach said after the goalless draw at Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday
Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi dished out plenty of praise and criticism to his players after the 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest on Saturday in the Premier League.
It was a match low on quality from both sides but Spurs showed more organisation in their defending and midfield. They created chances but did not manage to put one of their 12 shots on target. They did however grab their first point of the Premier League season and end a four-game losing streak to Forest.
The best chance of the first half for Spurs fell to Omar Marmoush after Pedro Porro picked him out with a curling pass. The Egyptian ran on and scuffed his low shot beyond the left-hand post though. In the final stages of the half, Antonin Kinsky denied Morgan Gibbs-White in a one-vs-one moment. The assistant's flag went up soon after but the England international looked like he might have just been onside.
FOLLOW OUR TOTTENHAM FB PAGE! Latest Spurs news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page
Spurs escaped after a mess in the 66th minute. Gibbs-White was played in by James McAtee and his shot was deflected up into the air by Kinsky's hand. Sandro Tonali missed his clearing kick while running back to goal but just about managed to stop the ball on the goal line only for Neco Williams to force it over. However, VAR reviewed the footage and said the full-back used his hand to do so.
Both sides looked for openings in the final stages but neither had the quality or finishing to take the three points home.
Our Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold was among those putting the questions to De Zerbi after the match. Here's the full transcript from the press conference at the City Ground.
Not what you wanted going forward today, but behind it felt like an organised performance in this environment?
I think we played well but in the last third we have to improve. We have to take the better decisions. We have to keep more calm when we are very close to doing something important in the last third.
I remember the chance when Marmoush shot at goal [in the second half], the way we had Robertson overlapping. If we take the right decision and we play with Robertson then on the second post there is Kudus to score like this.
Or how many crosses went over the second post? From Mathys Tel, two times, Savio, one time. Savio I think it's the last decision. The ball from Pedro Porro on Mateus Fernandes when he played with Kudus and then for the header of Solanke, Mateus was completely alone to go forward to score.
Anyway, I'm very happy for the spirit of the team, for the organisation, with and without the ball. We didn't suffer nothing. Their style of play is very clear, long ball and second ball. But even this second ball, we won many, many duels. They have good players and taking points in this stadium is not so easy.
We are not happy because we didn't win, but I think this is the right spirit and the right way to move on in this moment. Because we started just last Thursday to work [all] together and to create, to build the team, to build the organisation. It's not enough the paper, the transfer market.
What did you make of Rodrigo Bentancur today, it felt like he won a lot today?
Great game, great game, Bentancur, great game Tonali, Gallagher. Gallagher as well, Tonali as well, Bentancur as well. Micky van de Ven, great game. I'm sorry because Savio and Destiny [Udogie] in that moment, I think they could play something more than 60 minutes. But there was a plan with the medical staff to not take risks. In this moment, I can't decide like the pitch says.
I think fans will understand, you've signed a lot of players, it's going to take a while for it to gel but we're used to your teams at Brighton playing free-flowing football. Are you concerned that your team didn't have a shot on target?
No, we could score three or four goals today. Because if you take the wrong decision, you don't score. But for me, it's a chance to score.
Mykhailo Mudryk came on for his first game in nearly two years, what did you make of his performance?
He's not ready yet. He's working to reach the best physical condition. He needs time, he needs work. In that position, we have Mathys Tel, big potential. But also Mathys takes too many wrong decisions, and Mudryk. So, two big players, two big potential players.
But anyway, if we want to score, I think Marmoush has 15 goals. Solanke, the chance header for Solanke, I consider a chance to score. It's not a shot on goal. But how many shots did Nottingham have today? I think, anyway, it was a good game.
Could I just ask about the agreement with the medical team? Could you just clarify that? So they say before the game...
Yes before the game, the plan was Savio and Udogie around 60 minutes, because it's dangerous, no?
And you're happy with that?
No, I'm not happy. But football is like this. Savio has not the best physical condition to play 90 minutes. He's an important player for us, a crucial player. Destiny is another crucial player for us. I think Kudus and Robertson, they played well. But, you know, to start one game like today, it's not so easy to come in from the bench and adapt immediately.
I'm not happy when we have the plan, but it's for my advantage, for my business, the management of the players after injuries.
You mentioned that Tonali played well. Was that more like what you expect to see from him and did you see over any improvements in his physical level?
I think he can play one step more, but he played the best game so far. Also, Gallagher played very well. Marmoush gives us the quality in the play.
Was it a tactical decision to bring Gallagher into the midfield or was there anything wrong with Fernandes?
You know, I have experience enough to know what this stadium is. This stadium is England football. And Gallagher, he knows better this type of games. Mateus becomes, for sure, in my time in Tottenham, one of the best players. But I'm lucky because I have more players, many players, and I have to find the right balance, the right first XI, if I can, before the game.
You mentioned all the mistakes you've made in the last third of the pitch. How can you coach that?
Meeting, watching, analysing together with the players. Also, I think, winning the games, because, you know, the confidence, the enthusiasm, it can be crucial to find the right decision.
But I love these players. I spoke now about Marmoush. But Marmoush, we have to analyse if he has, or not, 15, 12 goals. I think, yes, because he has all the qualities, enough to score that number of goals. He has to improve, of course. Like Domi Solanke, I think if Domi is fit, is in the best physical condition, the chance he had was completely different.