The Tottenham Hotspur boss is speaking to reporters after the goalless encounter against Everton on Saturday in the Premier League
Roberto De Zerbi is holding his press conference following Tottenham's 0-0 draw against Everton in the Premier League on Saturday evening.
Spurs kicked off the encounter with tempo, finally looking like a De Zerbi team, but struggled to actually test Jordan Pickford in the Everton goal until substitute Lucas Bergvall's late effort. Jan Paul van Hecke and Mateus Fernandes wasted good opportunities in the first period.
Otherwise the visitors had the better opportunities with Antonin Kinsky called upon to make three saves, one through his own mistake in presenting the ball to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in the second half. Former Spurs man Brennan Johnson also fired over from a good position.
Despite some late pressure, Tottenham could not find a way through and remain without a goal and a victory in the Premier League this season. It is the first time in their history that the north London club have not scored in the opening four matches of a league season.
Our Spurs correspondent Alasdair Gold is among those putting the questions to De Zerbi after the draw. Scroll down for his latest updates from the press conference at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Here's every word De Zerbi said
We've got every word Roberto De Zerbi just said on what he was saying to Mathys Tel on the pitch after the final whistle, the Italian word that sums up why Spurs aren't scoring goals and a four minute answer to my first question. You can read the full transcript by heading right here or scroll down for some highlights.
A long answer from De Zerbi
I am honest, I am always honest with you because when we play bad, I say we played very bad but when I come in press conference, 99 per cent I am honest. Like with the players and like with the club. I said we started this season late in many, many reasons and too late. Many players at the World Cup, many injuries, many problems in Australia. Mateus Fernandes, Micky van de Ven, Dominic Solanke and for not our responsibility or our club responsibility. We brought two players late, Savio and Marmoush, and I started to work with this (whole) group not last Thursday but two Thursdays ago. So, I think we have not the right physical condition yet. I think we played very well the first 30 minutes and then maybe the energy? Maybe the fact we didn’t score? Maybe we lost in some players a little confidence. We have to be not positive but realistic. If we extend that part of the game 30 minutes to 60, 70, 80 and 90, in my opinion, for my belief, we are going to win many games. We have to improve in the last third of the pitch, for sure. The last decision, the last pass and we have to shoot more times especially when we have space and time to do; we have to do with the right spirit, but I can’t say nothing bad. I know how the players are working, I think we are in the right way but it’s tough to explain because four games without goals is tough to accept. We are sorry for the fans, but the fans they went behind the players. When the players in the first 30 minutes, they played very well, it was a hot, hot stadium and then everyone like me, like every fan inside of Tottenham or the people inside of the club, we were sad because 75 times in the goal area and not shoot enough to explain the quality of the play we did and also in the second half. I watch many, many games where the winning team created less than us in the second half. What is the problem? The problem is the goal and the most important problem, the real problem is the players have to be focused on the first 30 minutes and the improvements we can do and we have to do. Not about social media, not about the journalist because today if we had won, now we stay in different way. With smile, great first half, great spirit in the second half and great, great, great but the result change the opinion. In my opinion, no? Because I am a coach and not a journalist or a fan.
More from the Spurs boss
I came last season when the s*** was like this (puts his hand up to his forehead), you know? S***, I repeat. And I've always been, not positive, but realistic. Now I explained, I'm sorry for the results, but it's not immediate, no? Not the improvement, not immediate to make a team. Today we played as a team. We didn't score, we didn't win, but today and Nottingham I think we played as a team. And I can't say nothing as an attitude, as a behaviour of the players, no, no. I said to stay calm, maybe to not lose the confidence because we are not scoring, we are not winning. Stay calm, improve, work hard and individually try to understand where is the improvement, no? I spoke with Mathys Tel just at the end of the game to explain what was his position today.
De Zerbi is here
There is a word in Italian that literally translates as we unblock ourselves. I think the team is incredibly strong and we can win games. We can find the goals with the quality of our players. The full-backs and their quality. Andy Robertson was very good today but we didn't maybe trust his crosses enough.
David Moyes is here first
It felt like Tottenham had more [shots on target] than we did. Was I happy with the performance? No, not really. I told the players about coming here and our club's record here. Tottenham were so good for 20 minutes, put us under so much pressure and we struggled to get out of it. We didn't play well enough today though and turned the ball over too much.
Here are our Spurs player ratings
You can find our Spurs player ratings after another goalless display by heading right here.
Welcome to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
When will that first Premier League goal of the season arrive?
Follow Football London: