Brentford beat Tottenham 3-0 as Roberto De Zerbi's side falter in Premier League opener

Early control at the Gtech Community Stadium

Tottenham Hotspur began their Premier League campaign with a 3-0 defeat away to Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday. Spurs manager Roberto De Zerbi selected four summer signings in his starting lineup, deploying Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke in defense alongside 20-year-old captain Archie Gray, while record signing Sandro Tonali started in central midfield. Brentford established control from the opening exchanges, creating an early opportunity when Robertson nearly turned a cross into his own net before Nathan Collins missed from six yards. The home side opened the scoring in the 12th minute when midfielder Mamadou Sangare combined with Igor Thiago, drove down the right side and cut the ball back for Keane Lewis-Potter to score from close range. Brentford sustained pressure through Dango Ouattara and prevented Tottenham from developing rhythm during the initial half hour.

Brentford extend the advantage

Brentford doubled their lead in the 33rd minute after Antonin Kinsky parried a shot from Mathias Jensen and Vitaly Janelt scored from the rebound. Tottenham reached the half-time break without recording an attempt on target, while Tonali sent a volley over the crossbar from 18 yards out. De Zerbi introduced 85 million pound addition Mateus Fernandes and Rodrigo Bentancur at the start of the second half to replace Lucas Bergvall and Conor Gallagher. Brentford scored their third goal in the 49th minute when Collins headed a corner toward goal, Sangare forced a save from Kinsky, and Michael Kayode converted the loose ball. Brentford were awarded a penalty shortly after when Bentancur brought down Kevin Schade, but Thiago struck the post from the spot.

De Zerbi points to physical and tactical shortcomings

Following the match, De Zerbi stated that physical readiness and duels decided the contest in Brentford's favour. He explained that several squad members had returned late from the World Cup and noted difficulties during the pre-season tour of Australia. De Zerbi maintained that his squad needs to develop cohesion across upcoming training sessions.

We are not a team yet for a lot of reasons. Before you become a team you can't say what you can do. We are not in the right physical condition for a lot of reasons. Some players came back late from the World Cup. In Australia we don't work in the right way but it is not excuses. It is a normal situation when building a new project.

De Zerbi also pointed out that transfer activity alone does not instantly establish understanding on the pitch.

Now the target is to become a team. You can't become a team from the transfer market on paper. You become a team when the players find a connection, a spirit, a soul. It's a project.

Summer squad overhaul and next fixtures

Tottenham entered the campaign following consecutive 17th-place finishes, having avoided relegation on the final day of the previous season against Everton. The club spent between 200 million and 237 million pounds on transfers before the fixture and pursued additional agreements for Manchester City attackers Savinho and Omar Marmoush to take total spending past 300 million pounds. Brentford head coach Keith Andrews praised the performance of Sangare, who joined from Lens for a fee reported between 39 million and 41 million pounds. Tottenham's only late efforts came from 19-year-old winger Mikey Moore, who saw two attempts stopped by goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.