Tottenham 2-3 Aston Villa: What De Zerbi said

Tottenham boss Roberto de Zerbi speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "The game was finished before [we scored the goals]. We played very well in the first half and we created chances to score. We conceded the first two goals in ways that were not acceptable. "For the first we have to communicate better, we have to stay like a family and we didn't and we conceded a stupid goal. Second goal, we have the offside decision [disallowing Spurs' goal] but the focus had to be better. "We have to be stronger. We have to put on the pitch something more than we are putting. Football is tactical but it is blood, it is fighting, it is first one on the ball. Without that it is tough to win the game. "As a coach I take responsibility. I can work better, harder and more. I can explain my opinion about the performance and about what we can do more. But in the end I can't change something more in the behaviour. "I think we are not lucky in this period but you have to deserve luck and the positive things and we are not good enough to deserve luck in this moment. "You have to ask the players [if it is good timing for the international break]. We will suffer until the next game and we will try to do better in the future." Did you know? Tottenham have now lost 22 home league games since the start of 2024-25, just one fewer than in their previous four seasons combined (23). Tottenham have failed to win any of their previous 48 games in all competitions in which they've conceded the opening goal (D11 L36), with 37 of those games coming in the Premier League (D8 L29). This is Spurs' worst start to a Premier League season after five games, with two points and a goal difference of -6, eclipsing their 2008-09 start (2 points, -3 goal difference).