adminRoberto De Zerbi was left frustrated after Tottenham Hotspur suffered another damaging defeat, losing 3-2 to Aston Villa at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.
Spurs went into the game desperate for their first Premier League victory of the season, but despite enjoying long spells of possession and creating several opportunities, they were unable to prevent Aston Villa from leaving north London with all three points.
The result represents another setback for De Zerbi, whose side have endured a difficult beginning to the campaign. Tottenham had collected only two points from their opening four league matches before Saturday’s fixture and were still searching for their first league goal.
The match initially looked as though it could finally provide the breakthrough Spurs had been waiting for. Tottenham controlled much of the opening period and created enough opportunities to have taken the lead.
However, Aston Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki produced several important saves before Johan Manzambi punished Tottenham just before half-time to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Tottenham eventually found the net after the break, but Villa responded strongly.
Nicolas Jackson doubled the visitors’ advantage before Emiliano Buendia produced a stunning strike to make it 3-0. Conor Gallagher’s late effort finally ended Tottenham’s long wait for a Premier League goal, but it came too late to change the outcome.
The defeat is particularly frustrating for De Zerbi because Tottenham had shown periods of promising football without getting the reward their possession and attacking pressure appeared to deserve.
The Spurs boss was visibly frustrated on the touchline as the game slipped away from his side, while sections of the home support expressed their disappointment at the final whistle. Reports from the match also noted supporters leaving before the conclusion as Villa moved into complete control.
De Zerbi had already admitted earlier in the week that Tottenham were experiencing a difficult period following their Carabao Cup defeat to Liverpool. He accepted responsibility for the team’s poor run and insisted that the players needed to remain stronger and prepare for the next challenge.
The Italian had also maintained that Tottenham were moving in the right direction despite the results, expressing confidence in his players and believing that the team would eventually find the breakthrough needed to start winning matches.
Against Villa, however, Tottenham’s problems were once again exposed.
They dominated possession for large periods but struggled to turn that control into decisive attacking moments. Villa, meanwhile, were more efficient when opportunities arrived and repeatedly threatened Tottenham on the counterattack.
The defeat leaves De Zerbi facing further questions about Tottenham’s start to the season. The club invested heavily during the summer transfer window, with expectations that the new-look squad could help Spurs move away from the struggles of the previous campaign.
Instead, Tottenham remain without a league victory after five matches and have already suffered another significant blow to their hopes of making a positive start under De Zerbi.
For the Spurs manager, the immediate task is now to find a response.
There were encouraging moments in the performance, particularly during the first half, but the final result once again highlighted Tottenham’s inability to convert their periods of dominance into points.
With pressure increasing around the club, De Zerbi will need his players to respond quickly. The defeat to Aston Villa has ensured that Tottenham’s difficult start to the 2026/27 Premier League season continues, while the manager’s frustration is likely to grow as he searches for the formula that can finally turn Spurs’ performances into victories.
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