Former Tottenham Hotspur and Republic of Ireland star Steven Carr has given his honest thoughts on Roberto De Zerbi’s side.
Roberto De Zerbi has been called upon to try to return Tottenham Hotspur to the days of Mauricio Pochettino after spending more than £300m in the summer transfer window.
The likes of Mateus Fernandes, Sandro Tonali, Savio and Jan Paul van Hecke have all joined the Lilywhites this summer, while Cristian Romero, Luka Vuskovic and Jed Spence have all left in a major reshuffle. It hasn’t been the start many would have expected, but Spurs are yet to win in England’s top flight.
Former Tottenham and Ireland star Stephen Carr, who made more than 200 Premier League appearances for Spurs and played in their 1999 League Cup triumph, has admitted there is a “huge gulf” at the minute between his former team and Arsenal and insists Champions League qualification is an immediate priority.
FOLLOW OUR TOTTENHAM FB PAGE! The latest Spurs news, analysis and more via our dedicated Facebook page
Speaking to BetVictor Online Casino, Carr said: “Arsenal challenged for the title last year, while Spurs could have easily been relegated, there is a huge gap. Arsenal have been consistent throughout the year and challenged for the title.
“Spurs need to focus on getting back to where they are under Mauricio Pochettino, now aiming for Champions League qualification rather than comparing themselves directly to Arsenal as they are miles away.
“Consistency is key after last season. I initially thought Spurs would challenge for the top four under De Zerbi, but with five games to go they need to turn things around quickly. Arsenal are miles ahead at the moment, so Spurs need to focus on resetting their trajectory.
“The derby rivalry will always be there for the fans and on the pitch, but forget that for now. Spurs just need to get their season back on track after a difficult few years.”
Tottenham have drawn three and lost three of their six league games so far and are already out of the Carabao Cup. Some of the summer signings have struggled to settle at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Carr thinks that’s normal.
He said: “Spurs spent a lot of money in the transfer window. They probably hit a bit of a panic button after last season. They invested heavily in the squad and the manager, so to get just two points from five games is a terrible start for them.
“When you bring in several new foreign players at once, statistics show that it can take up to 9 months to adapt to the Premier League. Whether it’s moving to England or going abroad, it’s a difficult situation. These are very good players, but the top players in Europe often struggle in the Premier League and need time. Unfortunately, managers don’t need much time.
“De Zerbi is under pressure because he has been backed by more money to build his squad than Spurs have ever spent. At the end of the day, it’s a matter of results. If we don’t win, the fans are worried, there’s a nervous atmosphere that affects the players in the stadium. They have to turn the results around quickly when they come back from the break.
“I wouldn’t say he’s in immediate danger of being sacked because the club has backed him heavily, but expectations are high after last year’s scare. The board needs to get behind him and hopefully he’ll implement his ideas. Having a three-week break helps, although a lot of players are away from the national team and he wouldn’t be working with him at the time.”