Are Roberto De Zerbi’s Tottenham Finding Elusive Consistency?

The long, agonizing wait is finally over. After almost 21 months of turbulence, false starts, and profound frustration, Tottenham Hotspur have put together three consecutive Premier League victories for the first time since February 2025.

The atmosphere inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before kick-off against Crystal Palace was laden with historical anxiety. Rather than viewing a struggling visiting side as an obvious opportunity, the prevailing mood was shaped by recent trauma—the fear of a classic banana skin. Yet, Roberto De Zerbi’s side emphatically put those demons to rest with a controlled, commanding 2-0 win on Saturday.

Capitalizing on Chaos and Red Cards

Crystal Palace’s task became virtually insurmountable after just 13 minutes when striker Jean-Philippe Mateta was shown a straight red card for an ill-judged, reckless lunge at Micky van de Ven. While the numerical disadvantage fundamentally altered the complexion of the fixture, Tottenham deserve immense credit for the ruthless manner in which they exploited it.

Goals from Archie Gray and Jan Paul van Hecke provided the tangible rewards for their overwhelming territorial dominance. This performance built directly on the platform established by their first league win of the campaign against Coventry City, followed immediately by a stunning victory away at Chelsea—only Spurs’ second league triumph at Stamford Bridge in 36 years. Three straight wins represent riches indeed, equalling the total number of victories Spurs managed across their previous 26 league matches combined under previous regimes.

🔎 The Core Vulnerability

For over 20 months, Spurs suffered from chronic inconsistency, defensive fragility, and an inability to chain positive results together, culminating in successive 17th-place finishes and a dreadful start to this season.

🛠️ The De Zerbi Transformation

A squad overhaul backed by £300m in summer investment—including heavy-hitters Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes—is finally clicking into gear, fostering renewed tactical discipline and collective belief.

The £300 Million Investment Beginning to Deliver

A crucial sub-plot of Tottenham’s early-season struggles centered on integrating high-profile summer acquisitions. Midfield duo Sandro Tonali, a £100m arrival from Newcastle United, and £85m signing Mateus Fernandes, who arrived from West Ham United, endured slow bedding-in periods. However, both players are now demonstrating precisely why Roberto De Zerbi pushed for such lavish expenditures.

Against Crystal Palace, Tonali was phenomenal, showcasing exceptional running power, defensive physicality, and creative vision from deep midfield. Fernandes was equally energetic, constantly probing for openings. Furthermore, the return of Dejan Kulusevski from a long injury layoff added an immediate spark from the bench, forcing a brilliant save out of Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

Roberto De Zerbi Demands Continued Ambition

Despite the euphoria of three straight victories propelling Spurs into the top half of the Premier League table, Roberto De Zerbi remains strictly grounded. Speaking to BBC Sport’s Match of the Day following the game, the Italian head coach emphasized that complacency is the ultimate enemy.

“The passion we showed—we didn’t lose the focus, the concentration. We made an incredible reaction when we lost the ball,” De Zerbi reflected. “We could have scored more goals, but we created many chances. We have to be more nasty, especially in the last third of the match, especially in the finishing. I’m happy because I knew before this would be a tough game.”

Expanding on the broader transformation, De Zerbi added: “Listen, we are Tottenham. We can’t forget to be ambitious, to be hungry, to win games in a row, and to make our fans happy. At the same time, we can’t forget two weeks ago where we have been in the table… Three games in a row is not enough. We have to keep this behaviour, this spirit.”