Following a 3-0 defeat against Brentford, Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi publicly addressed the physical state of his squad, specifically highlighting the performance levels of new signings Jan Paul van Hecke, Marcos Senesi, and Sandro Tonali. De Zerbi indicated that these players are currently not at the required physical standard to compete effectively in the Premier League.

The manager’s comments point toward a broader issue regarding player fatigue. The club’s recent schedule has been particularly taxing, involving both international commitments during the World Cup and a lengthy pre-season trip to Australia. For players like Van Hecke, who joined the club for £52 million in June, the transition has been rapid and physically demanding. De Zerbi noted that the current lack of fitness was an expected consequence of this condensed timeline rather than a surprise to the coaching staff.

While the manager’s assessment focuses on the physical toll of the calendar, the narrative highlights the challenges clubs face when integrating high-profile signings who have had little time to recover from international tournaments or adjust to new training regimes. The team now faces the task of managing these fitness deficits while maintaining competitiveness in the league.