Tottenham Hotspur

Four of our new signings – Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Sandro Tonali – all started, joined by fellow new recruit Mateus Fernandes in the second half.

There was so much positivity in the build up, but Brentford went ahead early through Keane Lewis-Potter and didn’t let up. Vitaly Janelt doubled the lead on 33 minutes and Michael Kayode essentially put the game beyond doubt with a third goal four minutes into the second half. Igor Thiago also missed a penalty.

Mikey Moore had our best chance saved by Caoimhin Kelleher in the second half but it was a day to forget, as both Roberto and skipper Archie Gray – our youngest ever captain for a competitive fixture – pointed to the team losing ‘too many duels’.

Speaking to us pitchside afterwards, Roberto said: “I'm sorry for the result, I'm sorry for the performance, for the players, for our fans, but I knew before the game, I knew from last Saturday when we played against Hoffenheim, we are not at the right point in terms of physical condition for a lot of reasons.

“For the players, they came after the World Cup and they came late for the pre-season in Australia where we had not time to work in the right way, in the best way, but it's not an excuse. Our first 11 today was very young, but it was enough to compete in a different way.

“We lost too many duels. We didn't find the right timing to go in the high pressure. I think it's a sad day for us because I'm disappointed for the result, for the performance, but we have to be good, to analyse well the defeat.

“We can't lose the confidence. We can't lose what we created last season. We have to improve, yes, we have to put something more than today, individually and collectively, but anyway, be calm, because the project has just started and I think we are working well.

“We have to stay calm and put the focus on the improvement we have to do. I think we are all in the right situation to build something special, maybe not immediately, we need time, but I think we are in a good way."

Lining up with a number of fresh faces amidst a summer of change, our new-look side struggled to get going at the Gtech Community Stadium and paid the price against a ruthless Bees outfit who established control early on and never looked back, Keane Lewis-Potter and Vitaly Janelt putting them two goals to the good with just over half-an-hour gone before Michael Kayode netted a third with the second period only four minutes old.

The scoreline could have been even worse for us, but Igor Thiago saw his 55th-minute penalty cannon back off the post after Rodrigo Bentancur was deemed to have fouled Kevin Schade in the box. Mikey Moore had our best chances to get off the mark in the second half but was denied three times by home goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher as Brentford capitalised on our period of transition to register their first-ever home Premier League win against us.

With our rebuild still in progress and a handful of players working their way back to fitness, Roberto De Zerbi handed full debuts to four of our six new signings in Jan Paul van Hecke, Marcos Senesi, Andy Robertson and Sandro Tonali, with a fifth – Mateus Fernandes – coming off the bench as we tried to mix things up at the break. Academy product Moore, who spent last season on loan at Rangers, also came in for his first Premier League start since May, 2025, with Archie Gray leading the team out as our youngest-ever captain, but we found it tough going against a slick Bees outfit that threatened from the off.

Robertson had to glance Mathias Jensen’s venomous free-kick over his own crossbar while Nathan Collins diverted a header just wide in the opening stages before a fluid move which new signing Mamadou Sangare was at the heart of led to Brentford’s opener on 12 minutes, the midfielder playing a neat give-and-go before cutting the ball back for the free-roaming Lewis-Potter to plant past Antonin Kinsky.

Thiago’s headed effort crashed off the bar but the offside flag was raised in the build-up while Dango Ouattara threatened in our box a couple of times before the Bees doubled their advantage, Richarlison unable to hold up Kinsky’s clearance and Jensen shimmying past Lucas Bergvall before seeing his shot repelled by our goalkeeper, with Janelt in position to slide home the rebound with 32 minutes on the watch.

We introduced Fernandes and Rodrigo Bentancur into midfield at the break but with less than four minutes of the second half played we found ourselves 3-0 down, Sangare’s shot superbly saved by Kinsky after a corner had been nodded back across the box with Kayode pinging home the rebound.

Moore saw two low attempts thwarted by Kelleher – the second in particular a real chance with the young attacker picked out in space for a shot by Robertson’s sweeping delivery – before Bentancur was penalised for his challenge on Schade in our box and the Bees had a chance to go 4-0 up, but Thiago hit the post with his penalty. Seven minutes later, Moore wriggled into space behind Lewis-Potter and this time put his laces through the ball, but was again denied by a good stop from Kelleher. Kristoffer Ajer saw his late header from a corner kept out by Kinsky at the other end, but there was to be no further addition to the scoreline as our campaign began on a difficult note.

Line-ups

Brentford (4-2-3-1): Kelleher, Kayode (Hickey 76), Ajer, Collins (c), Lewis-Potter, Jensen (Yarmoliuk 66), Sangare (Damsgaard 76), Ouattara (Anthony 66), Janelt, Schade, Igor Thiago (Wilson 83). Substitutes (not used): Valdimarsson, Henry, Pinnock, Schuster.

Spurs (4-2-3-1): Kinsky, Gray (c) (Udogie 85), van Hecke, Senesi, Robertson, Tonali, Bergvall (Bentancur 46), Moore (Maddison 67), Gallagher (M Fernandes 46), Tel, Richarlison (Solanke 67). Substitutes (not used): Dubravka, Davies, Danso, Williams-Barnett.

Match data

Goals: Brentford – Lewis-Potter 12, Janelt 32, Kayode 49.

Yellow cards: Brentford – Janelt 78; Spurs – Gallagher 34.

Referee: Michael Oliver.

Venue: Gtech Community Stadium, Brentford.

Weather: Sunny, light winds, 21 degrees.

Attendance: 17,180.

Micky is first captain of five named by Roberto De Zerbi on Friday - Pedro Porro, James Maddison, Ben Davies and Archie Gray complete the leadership group.

He said: "It’s a massive honour to be captain of Tottenham Hotspur. This is a massive Club and to have the responsibility to lead the team out of the tunnel every game, wearing the armband, is something you dream of."

Regarded as one of the best central defenders in Europe, Micky has consistently excelled since joining us from VfL Wolfsburg in August, 2023.

A key player in our UEFA Europa League triumph in 2025 – including a spectacular clearance off the line in the final against Manchester United – Micky also showed leadership qualities when he captained the team in the final, crucial six matches of last season under Roberto De Zerbi.

Micky, who signed a new, long-term deal this summer, is now up to 96 appearances in all competitions for us, adding a valuable 10 goals. He took his tally of caps for the Netherlands to 24 at the World Cup.

Drew will be supported in leadership by a performance group named by Martin Ho - Jessica Naz, Eveliina Summanen, Toko Koga, Julie Blakstad and Caitlin Dijkstra.

She said: "I'm proud to be made captain this year. With my experience, I hope to lead the girls so we can have a successful season together.

"And it's not just myself, there are many leaders within this group. In the performance group we have people that can lead us in different ways. Combined with the rest of the team, we can really push on and have a successful year."

Drew has been a pivotal figure in our midfield as our Women's First Team has continued to grow in the Women's Super League.

The Jamaica international joined us from Chelsea in the summer of 2022 and is now up to 88 appearances for us in all competitions.

A combative, skilful midfielder with an eye for goal, Drew made 24 appearances in all competitions last season, including 19 in our record-breaking WSL campaign. In December, she clocked up the impressive 200 appearance career milestone in the WSL.

She has a wealth of experience - before joining us, Drew made 238 appearances for Chelsea, winning 11 major trophies. A regular for Jamaica, Drew helped her nation reach the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time in 2023.

SPURSPLAY

SPURSPLAY

SPURSPLAY

Jamie Carr’s side got their 2026/27 campaign underway last weekend at home to Reading and produced an impressive performance on the way to a resounding 6-1 victory.

Remarkably, our first two Under-18 Premier League fixtures of the new season mirror those of a year ago, as we now head to Norwich’s training centre for a tough test against a Canaries side that won 3-2 at Chelsea in midweek thanks to Kahlil Steele’s hat-trick.

Here's what he had to say...

Tell us about the summer so far. So much has happened since May, so many big signings, players leaving - how happy are you?

Roberto: "It seems I'm here for 10 years. Three months, just three months. Very intense three months. I think we can't forget what happened last season. It's a lesson, a big lesson for us, for every one of us. But anyway, we have to go on another page and to start another season, an important season. We are building, I think, a new project. And now the big challenge, without talking too much about the target, the goal of this season, the first two targets we have very clear in ourselves is to find the soul of the team. And the second target: to improve in our organisation of football. With the ball, without the ball, our style has to be the key of our season, like our soul. These two characteristics I want to find as soon as possible."

Savinho is obviously very close. After Savinho, how many more do you want? Any more bombas?

Roberto: "It's not right to speak about the players until they are official. Just to say, I'm very happy. We have not finished yet in the transfer market. It's an important part, I think, because so far we have had a great summer of signings - great players, great behaviour, great spirit, great personality. You know better than me in the Premier League, you don't win the game with the names, with the big players. There are a lot of examples in the last years in the Premier League. We have to deserve to win the game and to deserve to win the game, we have to reach a high level in character, in passion, in value and in the style of play as well."

You've also sold Djed Spence and Romero, your club captain. Can you tell us the new captain?

Roberto: "Yes, the new captain is Micky van de Ven. The second, Pedro Porro. The third, Ben Davies. The fourth, James Maddison and the fifth, Archie Gray. Why five captains? Just because I want many captains inside of the pitch and to be clear in the position. Every one of them, they deserve to be a captain or in the group of the captains, But the personality, the passion, is not if you are a captain or you are not a captain."

How involved have you been in the transfer decisions so far?

Roberto: "Yes, but in transfer market and for Tottenham and every club it’s not just for the coach, it’s not just for the sport director, it's not just for the board. I think we are working very well with Johan Lange, with Vinai, with Nick, with all the board involved in the transfer market. We have spoken a lot of times in this summer, because it's a connection. The most important part not in the transfer market, but in football, in a club so big like Tottenham, so important like Tottenham, is the connection between the people inside of the club. I think we are closing the first targets we have in our plan from a long time. Before I came in April, we had already spoken about these targets of the transfer market."

What's the latest team news – is Micky van de Ven fit?

Roberto: "No, Micky is not on the list for tomorrow, like Pedro Porro and the other players are all inside. James Maddison is inside, Dominic Solanke is inside, Udogie is inside, Mateus Fernandes is inside. Pape Sarr, no, because he felt pain two days in his hamstring. Nothing important, but we don’t take risk with him and especially in this moment."

You mentioned soul and organisation are key – is that what will help, because you've had a full pre-season...

Roberto: "Yes, I think we started last season to build something about the style of play. Not too much because it was not the right time to work too much in the style, in the principle of with the ball or without the ball, but we started working in the soul. And the last six games with me, I think we showed that a lot of times - even when we lost in Chelsea. I think it is the first point and the most important part in football now."

It seems that the amount you have to pay to sign players these days has gone so high. For a football man, do you we going a bit crazy with the amount spent on players?

Roberto: "I think Premier League is a different league. It's a different price, a different competition in the transfer market and I don't know if it's right or not. On the market, and I'm not speaking just in football, but generally in the market, you can't say if it's right, fair or not. You can accept or not. And if you want to compete in the Premier League now, you have to adapt. I think I've heard too many times, 'Tottenham money, Tottenham money', but I loved football for a long time and I didn't see any team competing for the high level without spending money. Maybe if Tottenham spend money is a problem in the Premier League? I don't know why, but all the other teams have spent money in the past and also in this season. For me, it's not a pressure, it's just a consideration."

Fitness of players - how are you going to keep your players fit this season?

Roberto: "I think another important part of this season is the medical staff, the physical staff, is new for a big part of them. Big professionals, great people, very good in their jobs. I think it's important also the management of the players, when the players have some problem, we have to stay calm, don't take risks. We have Kulusevski, we have Odobert, we have Xavi Simons, injuries. Kudos is almost ready, that is a big point for us, but these three players are top players for us, and we're looking forward to watch them on the pitch."

You only play one game a week this season, no Europe, like Manchester United did last season. Is your target, like United last season, to finish in the top four or top five?

Roberto: "I don't know, I hope we have not one game per week, because we have Carabao Cup and FA Cup, and for me, we are competing for three competitions. Yes, the first season for sure is a big advantage, because we have time to work during the week, we can improve faster than the Champions League or the Europa League in the middle of the week, for sure, but I would like to compete every season in the European competition, because I think Tottenham deserve to stay in that competition."

Micky van de Ven had a big summer, signed a new contract, he's your captain, but we haven't actually seen him yet playing any minutes - what's the latest with his fitness?

Roberto: "Today he's working with us, with the group, he's going very well. He suffered a problem during the pre-season in Australia, I don't know, the flight, I don't know, something, not a big problem, but not right to work. But we have Senesi, we have Ben Davies, and we are in the right condition to play the game tomorrow, and to try to find the result."

With Djed Spence leaving, do you want to sign a new right-back or are you happy with Pedro Porro and Archie Gray as your options?

Roberto: "First of all, I'm really disappointed with Djed, because I love him, we have a great relationship, he's a very good guy, he's a very important player, but in the end I have to respect, if he wants to play 38 games, I can't give my word, any guarantee for the players, especially if we are building a big competition inside of the squad. Right-back is, I think in this moment, one, maybe the best, maybe one of the three best right-backs in the world. In the left-back we have Udogie and Robertson, and both are big, big level, and if you don't want to stay anymore in Tottenham, in a big club, you have to leave. Like with Cuti, the same relationship with Spence. Vicario for example, Vicario called me on Wednesday when he left. I'm sorry, but football is like this. I think if I spoke at the beginning of my press conference about the soul, to find the soul, every one of us, they have to stay here with the right spirit, proud to stay here, and with great ambitions, great motivation, otherwise it's tough, one season with me without motivation and without ambition, it becomes tough for everyone."

Do you need another right-back?

Roberto: "In this moment I think no, we have Archie Gray, he prefers playing in the midfield position, but he can play very well also as a right-back. I think we are good. I don't want 25, 26 players. I want 21, 22 players, I think that's enough, especially if these players or more players, they can adapt in more positions on the pitch, and I think we have many players who can play in different positions, Gray midfielder, right back, Gallagher number 10 or number 8, it's the same Micky van de Ven or Ben Davies left-back. I think we have Kudus, winger or number 10, we have a lot of solutions."

Where is Dejan Kulusevski right now?

Roberto: "He's working, he's working not with the group, but with the individual coach. I'm observing him a lot, because first of all, he suffers too much, and as a human situation, it's been tough for him, and every one of us we are close with him for this period. Then he's a different player, he's a special player, if he's fit and he's available, he's a different player like Xavi Simons."

Continuing our preview feature 'what can you tell us about...?' we turned to David Anderson of Bees Tactical, the home of all things tactics, data and youth Bees, found on on Substack.

Here's what David had to say...

"Pre-season couldn’t have gone any better for Brentford, almost too well, unbeaten and scored lots of goals, including a 7-0 hiding of Eintracht Frankfurt in the final game for fans.

"Mamadou Sangaré, the new star centre midfielder from Mali, feels like the missing piece we’ve been waiting for. We’ve had lots of midfielders over the years who all have their talents but needed someone else to mask their weakness, be it tackling, running, or their passing. Sangaré can do everything well and is the exact box-to-box, all-action cliché midfielder we’ve needed.

"Bees fans are super excited for the season to get started and most of us believe we can go one better and beat last season’s finish (ninth - Bees missed out on European qualification on the final day of last season) to push for a European spot.

"Damien Duff in as assistant coach could be the best summer signing for Brentford, or the worst. Adding to the growing Irish core contingent, we don’t usually make mistakes when bringing new people into the club. This season we expect to command more of the ball compared to last and have a bit more luck with set-pieces."

Speaking from last week's Legends Lunch at Hotspur Way, where our former players watched training before enjoying time mixing with Roberto De Zerbi and the first team staff and players, 10 legends told us how they feel going into 2026/27 - all kicking-off at Brentford's Gtech on Saturday (5.30pm UK).

Jermain Defoe

"I'm really excited, and the reason I'm excited is with the recruitment, some top players, but I'm just as excited about the manager. I think when I look at the last 10 years, with all the managers that we've had here, I think you'd put him up there with one of the best. The players - and I've spoken to players who have played for him at other clubs - they speak so highly of him. You can just see he's one of those managers that you run through a brick wall for. I think once you've got that, once you've got a team that's willing to compete first, because these are top players, if you've got a team that's willing to compete and run through a brick wall for a manager, then you've got a chance."

Mark Falco

"I'm very excited for this season, especially with the signings we've made, and it looks like we'll get a couple more before the beginning of the season. I'm really optimistic."

Les Ferdinand

"Yeah, I'm pretty excited, with the new manager in place and the signings that have come in this summer. I've seen plenty of Tonali at Newcastle - he moves the ball, assists, never dwells on it. It's never about him, it's always about what's best for the team. Top player. I'm pretty excited looking at what Roberto's done at the end of last season and looking forward at what's to come."

Steffen Freund

"Roberto... I think he'll change everything in a positive way. The key is always to be successful with the first team. I'm not saying it will be straight away a top four or five again, but on the way. Don't forget, if you don't have the European games - of course, that's negative first, you want to be in Europe - but now it's happened and now you have a little bit more time to prepare the team. That's why I think Spurs will end up in Europe again definitely next season."

Micky Hazard

"I'm very positive about the season, I think we've made great signings and most importantly we made them early, so that meant the boys could get in and mix with all the other players, learn a little bit about them before the season starts. That's really positive. I don't think we're far away from challenging right at the top of the Premier League again. I think that we can really go places this season."

David Howells

"I'm very positive about the season, I think the signings have been really strong - not just good players, but good characters as well, so I think the mood around the place... you can feel it just by walking in (to the training centre) today, the mood around here is upbeat and everyone's really looking forward to the start of the season. Looking back two months ago, we probably weren't thinking that, so everyone's really buzzing about it."

Younes Kaboul

"Good manager, good players coming in, Micky van de Ven's contract - that all helps. The team just needs to start strong, then take it game after game. But, start strong and just focus on our squad, on Tottenham."

Paul Miller

"I mean, everything's changed here, I've got to be honest with you. The new manager's come in and he's been a breath of fresh air. I love the signings we've made. To me, it's still Liverpool, Arsenal and City, in my opinion, I see us in the batch after that - I can see us finishing back in the top five or six."

Michel Vorm

"I think it's a fresh start, signed some new players, an eager manager with a very clear style of play. I think that's very important - and he's been backed by everyone. The interesting thing as well, there are a lot of clubs in the Premier League who have new managers, new players, so I think it will be an open season for, in my opinion, the spots Tottenham need to play for - and that's for European football, Champions League football. We've so much quality in this squad and I think he's the type of manager who can bring it all together."

Victor Wanyama

"The team has gone through tough times last season and they now know what it takes, the mentality, especially in the last game - they knew if they didn't win that game (against Everton), that was it. Now, with that mentality coming in the next season, I believe they could be title contenders. So, this season, I think the club has really pushed. I know it's behind the scenes and as players, you can't go out there and say we're going to fight for the title, but that's the mentality we have."