Former French and Tottenham striker Louis Saha says, in a conference with football prediction, that Tottenham need to make a change in the game and also in the mentality of the players. Tottenham haven't really won any Premier League game this season after 39 attempts after conceding first.
Tactics or mentality
Many fans seem to question whether it's the manager's tactics or the players' mentality. Louis Saha explains that it is both.
"Yeah, it's a mixture of both and I think there's an exception, not only from fans but because of the kind of stature the club is."
Still part of the big six
Given the impression that Tottenham Hotspur are still part of the big six, he further explained why they should still be considered part of the elite clubs in the Premier League.
"It's a top side, because they have enormous capacity in terms of transfer market. They've made some great transfers and have built a big squad, where they have been blamed for, many years for not doing that. So, I think they've done it and they've a big stadium and also reaching a few finals, whether the Champions League or other cups. I think they have a great game of some moments and they are a brilliant side to watch."
Louis also noted that the possibility of Tottenham Hotspur being relegated to the Championship would be far worse and more upsetting for them.
"They would have been really damaged if they were at the Championship this year, that's not the case, and I think they need to rebuild. Sometimes it takes more than a year to do that, so hopefully this transition will do them good and next year, things will be better."
A stronger chain needed
He also pointed out that learning to win the hard way, or enduring long barren periods before results, is where a season can be consistent.
"At some point, remember maybe Spain or France, when they hadn't won any competition internationally and they needed one, I think there are those moments where a season needs to be consistent, where they need to show that they're able to switch, like maybe Arsenal did last year, with a kind of scrappy game that's not super beautiful to watch. Some days, they were praising the defence more than the attack, not like Arsenal at all."
Saha's assessment of Tottenham's structure is that it collapses too easily once the opposition gains a foothold.
"As I said, pretty much all the teams are looking for the perfect link from defence to attack, and at some moments in the game, you have to find that even more. If you lose that at a certain moment, when the opposition is trying to build on what you have given them, they tend to collapse and that is the problem."
The solution, in his opinion, is:
"They need to have a stronger chain that's stable for 96' or 98' minutes and doesn't break, not thinking about something else at some point. I don't know, that's the way forward."
His assessment is not one to decline: what evades them is the ability to respond when the first goal goes against them, a combination of tactical balance and mental toughness that De Zerbi is searching for, and the players must find it if they want to turn the tables and sustain results.
