Tottenham Hotspur have travelled to Marbella for several days of warm-weather training as head coach Roberto De Zerbi looks to address the physical shortcomings that have hampered his side throughout the early months of the season. The trip comes during an extended gap in the Premier League schedule before Spurs return to action against newly-promoted Coventry City, managed by Frank Lampard.
While clubs in English football typically schedule mid-season breaks in warmer locations around the turn of the year, De Zerbi has opted to bring his squad abroad sooner, hoping the change of scenery and focused training sessions can lift spirits and sharpen conditioning after a stuttering start to the campaign. Tottenham remain without a league win so far this season, though they have at least moved off the bottom of the table following their latest result.
That result came in the form of a 1-1 draw away at Manchester United, salvaged in dramatic fashion by a stoppage-time strike from Dominic Solanke. The point was particularly notable given Spurs played a significant portion of the match with ten men, making the late equaliser all the more valuable for a side desperate to build momentum.
The performance at Old Trafford encapsulated a recurring pattern for Tottenham this season. Fresh off an international break, De Zerbi's team started brightly, pressing United aggressively and carving out a number of high-quality chances in the opening stages. Their intensity unsettled the hosts early, yet Spurs were unable to turn their dominance into goals. That wastefulness proved costly when Bryan Mbeumo capitalised on one of United's few forward thrusts, finishing confidently in the 73rd minute to put the home side ahead before Solanke's late intervention rescued a point.
The inability to sustain their early pressure for the full ninety minutes has been a persistent issue under De Zerbi, who has repeatedly pointed to his squad's lack of physical conditioning as a contributing factor. The Italian has attributed this partly to a disrupted pre-season, with several players returning late following World Cup commitments and others being carefully managed as they work back from injuries.
With nearly three months of the season now gone and a genuine training window finally available, De Zerbi faces growing pressure to translate those explanations into tangible improvement. The break in Marbella represents a rare chance to work intensively with his squad on the training ground rather than simply managing recovery between fixtures.
Tottenham's attacking approach relies heavily on pressing high up the pitch - statistics show they rank second in the Premier League for high turnovers won and allow the second-fewest passes per defensive action in the division. However, maintaining that intensity throughout matches has proven difficult, with games often slipping away or being made harder than necessary once their initial burst fades.
For De Zerbi, the challenge over the coming days in southern Spain is twofold: building the physical resilience needed to sustain a high-tempo style for ninety minutes, and sharpening his side's efficiency in front of goal so that dominant spells translate into results. Both issues will need addressing quickly, with Tottenham facing a must-win fixture against Coventry upon their return to England as they continue searching for their first league victory of the campaign.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport.