Andy Robertson urges Tottenham to reset after disastrous Premier League start
Tottenham enter the international break bottom of the Premier League after taking two points from five matches, leaving Roberto De Zerbi under early pressure despite a summer outlay of more than £300 million. A 3-2 loss to Aston Villa before the pause again exposed the defensive problems that have followed Spurs into the new campaign.
What changed for Tottenham
Andrew Robertson has urged Tottenham’s players to stop being defined by the relegation battles of the past two seasons. Spurs finished 17th in both 2024-25 and 2025-26, and the Scotland left-back believes the impact of those campaigns is still visible within the group.
“You can tell that last season damaged them,” Robertson said. “Perhaps we are still carrying the burden of it.”
The former Liverpool defender said the responsibility for changing the mood also rests with the club’s summer arrivals. “It is on me and the other new players to help put it behind us. We have to try to return Tottenham to the level where we think they should be.”
Robertson arrived on a free transfer after nine years at Liverpool, where he won two Premier League titles and the FA Cup. He said talks with De Zerbi during the summer helped settle his decision to join.
“I spoke with the manager directly and we had a few video calls,” he said. “He is extremely ambitious and wants to win trophies, but he understands that we need to show progress quickly.”
The 32-year-old added that Tottenham had been his preferred destination from January, provided they avoided relegation. He followed their results closely and said De Zerbi’s appointment increased his confidence that the move was right.
Competition context
Spurs have not been last in the top-flight standings after five fixtures since 2008-09. Their return of two points is particularly damaging given the scale of the club’s recruitment drive, with substantial investment yet to bring a coherent run of results.
- Tottenham have two points from their opening five Premier League matches.
- The 3-2 defeat by Aston Villa underlined continuing weaknesses at the back.
- Manchester United have also struggled, collecting five points from five league games.
De Zerbi’s side now have the break to regroup, with frustration growing around north London after a start that has placed them immediately in a survival fight rather than the push up the table expected after the transfer window.
What is scheduled next
Tottenham resume their Premier League season at Old Trafford on October 10, when they face Manchester United. Both clubs need a result after difficult openings, making the match an important early test for De Zerbi and his squad.
