Roberto De Zerbi defends Tottenham after historic goal drought

Roberto De Zerbi has defended Tottenham’s performances despite Spurs making unwanted history after another goalless Premier League display against Everton.

The 0-0 draw extended Tottenham’s remarkable attacking drought, with De Zerbi’s side now failing to score in each of their opening four league matches.

However, while questions continue to surround his attack, the Italian manager believes Tottenham’s improving defensive record deserves recognition.

Tottenham have now gone four Premier League matches without scoring this season following blanks against Brentford, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest and Everton.

It is the first time in the club’s history that Spurs have failed to score in their opening four league fixtures.

Their problems in attack are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore, but Tottenham have at least shown improvement defensively by recording consecutive clean sheets.

That was the positive De Zerbi chose to emphasise after the Everton draw.

“For example, in Italy, I should be the best coach, no? Two games, two clean sheets,” De Zerbi said.

“What would La Gazzetta dello Sport write? Two clean sheets. What are you going to write tomorrow - a clean sheet or no goals?”

Tottenham’s attacking frustration was also visible after the final whistle when De Zerbi held an animated conversation with Mathys Tel on the pitch.

The Spurs manager insisted there was no disagreement and explained that he was coaching Tel about his positioning as a striker.

“If we are playing with James Maddison, Mohammed Kudus and Savio, he has to play as a striker, and the striker has to look at the goal,” De Zerbi explained.

Tel started his career centrally before increasingly being used as a winger, but De Zerbi wants him to rediscover some of those centre-forward instincts when Tottenham have creative players operating around him.

The manager insisted there is “not a problem” between the pair.

De Zerbi now needs Tottenham’s defensive improvement to be matched at the other end of the pitch.

Spurs travel to Anfield to face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup before returning to Premier League action against Aston Villa.

Another couple of games without scoring would significantly increase the pressure surrounding Tottenham’s difficult start.

Tottenham face Liverpool at Anfield in the Carabao Cup before hosting Aston Villa in the Premier League. De Zerbi’s immediate priority will be finding a way to end Spurs’ historic goalscoring drought while maintaining their recent defensive improvement.