Roberto De Zerbi has said Tottenham are the 'most fragile' team he has coached in his entire career. The Italian has endured a difficult second season in North London, having kept the side up in the Premier League last term.
Saturday's 3-2 defeat against Aston Villa has left Spurs without a win in their opening five league games of the campaign and leaves them in the relegation zone.
'So fragile, so inconsistent'
In assessing his side's latest reverse, De Zerbi made the claim that Spurs were the most mentally fragile side he has coached throughout his career.
"It's a mental aspect for sure, but they have the right mentality," the Italian told talkSPORT. "They work very well, they are good players.
"It's difficult to explain because, in my career, 14 years as a coach, I've never seen one team like us. So fragile, so inconsistent.
"You're good, or you're bad. You can't be very good in the first 30, 40 minutes, and then concede like this in this way. It's tough to accept for me."
No answers after Villa defeat
Asked where his side went wrong against Aston Villa, he added: "Listen, I'm a coach, but I do not have all the answers...for your question, I have no answer.
"I can say what I think, what I've seen today and I saw my team in the first half play very well, we had chances to score. We didn't score and then we conceded the first goal...we have to stay closer and stay stronger, more compact.
"In the second half, after Kudus' goal, I don't know if the players lost energy...now we have to explain another defeat."
Leaders must step up
De Zerbi also suggested the blame could lay at the players' doors, with Spurs lacking leaders. He said: "Maybe the communication between the players [is the problem], maybe the leaders have to be stronger.
"We need leaders to drive and lead the team...I don't know, I want to speak with the players when I stay with them. With Newcastle it was the same, in Liverpool it was the same, with Everton it was the same...we have to find the solutions."
Spurs now head into the first international break of the season in the drop zone after their horrendous start. Their first game after the enforced break sees them come up against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
