Roberto De Zerbi has revealed he banned mobile phones during Tottenham's warm-weather training camp in Marbella, Spain, as he searches for solutions to lift the club off the bottom of the Premier League. Spurs face newly promoted Coventry on Monday still waiting for their first league win of the season.
Spurs' dire start
Tottenham sit rock bottom of the table with just three points from their opening six games. They are the only team yet to record a Premier League victory this term after Fulham beat Hull on Saturday.
The club spent more than £380million in the summer transfer window, bringing in 10 new signings after narrowly avoiding relegation last season. Despite that outlay, De Zerbi is still searching for ways to change his side's fortunes.
Phone ban and team bonding
Speaking at a press conference, the Italian explained the decision to remove devices from meal times during the camp. "We worked on the pitch, we stayed together - we removed phones from breakfast, lunch and dinner to stay together because now it is like (being on phones) all the time," he said.
"We had two or three important meetings speaking about football, our situation and how everyone has to take responsibility. And nothing more." De Zerbi added that there were separate dinners for players and staff, describing the camp as a normal step to spend more time together after a disrupted pre-season.
Injury boosts
De Zerbi has been boosted by the return of Dejan Kulusevski, who has been out for 526 days with complications from a serious knee injury. The winger is expected to be on the bench at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
James Maddison could start for the first time in 2026 after a long-term layoff, while Xavi Simons remains sidelined until the new year. De Zerbi said of Maddison: "He is another special player and now is available to play." The manager noted that some players can be important even with limited minutes, adding: "Right now he is ready to start the game, but I don't know if we will start with him."
