Tottenham in crisis after £300m spending spree, as Kinský shines between the posts

Tottenham have made a disastrous start to the new Premier League season: after a 2:3 defeat to Aston Villa, the club has picked up just 2 points from five matches, despite spending a record 9 billion Czech crowns (roughly £300 million) on squad reinforcements over the summer. Thousands of fans left the stadium before the final whistle, leaving the stands noticeably empty for the last 15 minutes of the game.

Former England international Jamie Carragher pointed out how unusual the situation was: normally fans start heading for the exits early only later in the season, once the pressure becomes unbearable. "But this is the start of the season, and Tottenham fans are already leaving. They're sending a clear message: De Zerbi got the players he wanted in the summer, and we're stuck watching one defeat after another. There are no excuses for Tottenham," Carragher said.

The manager accepts responsibility

Head coach Roberto De Zerbi didn't try to make excuses. "The players are disappointed, and so am I. Everyone in the dressing room feels it. I don't want to hide behind excuses — as the manager, I'm responsible for the results. When the team doesn't deliver, I need to look at myself first. We need to find a solution quickly, because this can't go on," the coach said.

Former Aston Villa boss and ex-Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard noted that Villa started the match reasonably well but, as so often, failed to convert their first-half chances. "If I were Tottenham's manager, I think I'd be tearing my hair out," he said of the performance.

Kinský the standout performer

Despite conceding three goals, Czech international goalkeeper Antonín Kinský put in a solid display and was rated 6 out of 10 by the BBC — no other Tottenham player scored higher. According to the outlet, the Czech shot-stopper confidently dealt with an effort from Manzambi and produced an even more impressive save to deny Buendía, while he could do little about the other goals he conceded.

Senegalese forward Nicolas Jackson also made his mark, scoring his first goal for Aston Villa and deepening Tottenham's crisis. The hosts' only goal came from substitute Conor Gallagher — the first time this season Tottenham had managed to score in the league within the first four rounds. Jan Paul van Hecke pulled a goal back in stoppage time to make it 2:3, but there was no time left for Tottenham to rescue the match, and the final whistle was met with boos from the stands.

Tottenham are yet to face any of the league's true heavyweights such as Manchester City, Arsenal or Liverpool — their opponents so far have been Brentford, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Everton and Aston Villa. That makes the club's current predicament all the more alarming. "Football isn't just about thirty minutes of good play. You need consistency for the whole match," De Zerbi concluded, promising changes to how the team trains and prepares for upcoming games.

Source: sport.cz