Brentford are everything Spurs want to be. Can De Zerbi bridge the gap?

Brentford hammered Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 at the Gtech Community Stadium in the opening fixture of the 2026-27 Premier League season, handing new Spurs manager Roberto De Zerbi a difficult start. Igor Thiago also struck a second-half penalty off the post, meaning the scoreline could have been even worse for Tottenham. The result highlights the challenge facing De Zerbi despite Spurs' high-profile summer spending, which included signing Sandro Tonali for £92.5 million, Mateus Fernandes for £85 million, and defender Jan Paul van Hecke.