More than a huge transfer fund needed to give a team mental strength

Roberto de Zerbi, by his own admission, confirmed his role was more psychologist than coach when he was given seven games to keep Tottenham in the top flight following his appointment in March.

The Italian has been handed vast funds for a host of new players to ensure Spurs do not suffer a repeat of the nightmare campaign.

Saturday’s dreadful defeat at Brentford was not the start he or the Spurs power brokers envisaged.

For all the change in transfer strategy and personnel, the manner in which Spurs capitulated at the first sign of pressure as they were run ragged by the Bees provided gruesome evidence that you need more than a huge transfer fund to give a team mental strength.

De Zerbi gave debuts to four of his new acquisitions in Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, Jan Paul van Hecke and Sandro Tonali. They will feel the only way is up because they were at rock bottom here. None of them distinguished themselves, although neither did any others.

Midfielder Tonali cost £100m from Newcastle United, but was utterly outshone and overpowered by Brentford‘s record buy Mamadou Sangare, who was the game’s outstanding performer.

Tonali’s only memorable contribution was a first-half attempt on goal that flew horribly skywards, prompting the inevitable suggestion from Brentford supporters that Spurs had wasted their money.

Matheus Fernades, at £85m from West Ham, came on as a substitute, while Savinho and possibly Omar Marmoush will add strength, but it was the lack of heart and fight that will be De Zerbi’s biggest concern.

Conor Gallagher and Lucas Bergvall did not return after the half-time interval, although they might justifiably point out others could have accompanied them.

De Zerbi somehow needs to get into the heads of these Spurs players to give them strength and steel. That is not something that can be achieved with a wave of the chequebook.