De Zerbi hopes Marbella trip creates team mentality for struggling Spurs

Roberto De Zerbi says his Tottenham players "need to feel like a team" and hopes their recent trip to Marbella has fostered a positive feeling ahead of hosting Coventry City.

Spurs are still yet to win in the Premier League this season, sitting bottom of the table with a mere three points on the board after six matches.

They showed great fight to recover from a goal down to draw with Manchester United last time out, however, even after Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for headbutting Luke Shaw.

De Zerbi's squad then jetted out to Marbella for a warm-weather training camp ahead of Coventry visiting the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Monday, and the Italian feels that trip has served as a positive bonding experience.

"It's more about the players being with each other, because okay, I'm a coach, I take responsibility, but the responsibility is on everybody, from the boss down to the players," he said.

"They have to feel that they are a team. I think in Manchester, especially in the toughest moment after the red card, we showed we have character. 

"So, we have to show character from the beginning at home with our fans, because if we want to, we can change the history of this season – and last season as well."

Coventry looked set for a tough campaign when they lost their opening four games following promotion from the Championship, but they have responded superbly with wins over Nottingham Forest (1-0) and Newcastle United (4-1).

Although Frank Lampard acknowledges Spurs will have high expectations on home soil, he believes Coventry can cause an upset if they maintain their recent levels. 

"When I look at them play, they have a lot of quality with a very good coach," Lampard said of Spurs.

"We worry about ourselves and from the start we had on paper, to where we've got to with these two wins, that makes us feel good, so it's not the time for comparisons.

"As we're a promoted side, I'm sure they'll have a feeling of confidence against us. That's fine. 

"We have to believe in ourselves and go there with our own confidence and play with the same purpose we did against Newcastle."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Tottenham – Dominic Solanke

Solanke's late equaliser at Old Trafford earned Tottenham a point against United last time out. However, Solanke has now won none of the last eight Premier League games in which he has scored (D2 L6). 

Only three players have ever had a longer such run – Steven Fletcher (10 games, Dec 2011 – Sept 2012), Abdoulaye Doucoure (nine, Sept 2017 – March 2019) and Zian Flemming (nine in 2025-26).

Coventry City – Sidiki Cherif 

Cherif scored in his first Premier League start for Coventry against Newcastle. 

The only three Sky Blues players to score in their first two Premier League starts are John Williams (August 1992), Mick Quinn (November 1992) and Dion Dublin (September 1994).

MATCH PREDICTION – TOTTENHAM WIN 

Coventry lost their first four Premier League matches this season, but since then, they have won their last two.

In English top-flight history, only three teams have lost their opening four matches of a campaign then won three in a row – Derby County in 1899-00, Arsenal in 1923-24 and Aston Villa in 1997-98.

The Sky Blues are on their longest winning run in the top flight since January and February 1998, when they posted five straight victories under Gordon Strachan.

However, this game represents a golden opportunity for Spurs to get their campaign up and running. 

Only three teams have had more touches in the opposition box in the Premier League this season than Spurs (182) and only two sides have completed more passes in the final third (770).

They rank bottom for shot conversion rate (3.6%) and have underperformed their expected goals (xG) figures by 3.6 goals (three goals from 6.6 xG), but Roberto De Zerbi will hope this is the match where their luck turns. 

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Tottenham – 51.3%

Coventry City – 23.9%

Draw – 24.8%