Merse: I worry about De Zerbi criticising Spurs forwards and medical staff

Tottenham: Roberto De Zerbi's criticism of Spurs forwards and medical staff 'worrying', says Paul Merson Tottenham drew 0-0 with Nottingham Forest on Saturday and are still waiting for their first Premier League goal of the season; Roberto De Zerbi criticised his forwards for not making "better decisions" and also said he was "not happy" with his medical staff influencing his substitutions Monday 7 September 2026 11:33, UK In his latest Sky Sports column, Paul Merson says he would be worried by Roberto De Zerbi's post-match comments criticising Spurs' forward players and medical staff. After Spurs' goalless draw with Nottingham Forest, De Zerbi was critical of his forwards, saying they need to make "better decisions" in the final third. Spurs ended the game without a shot on target as their wait for a first Premier League goal of the season goes on. - Transfer Centre LIVE! | Tottenham news & transfers⚪ - Spurs fixtures & scores | FREE Spurs highlights▶️ - Got Sky? Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone📱 - Not got Sky? Latest Sky Sports deals or stream PL games with no contract📺 De Zerbi also revealed he was "not happy" with his medical team telling him that Savio and Destiny Udogie could only play 60 minutes, forcing the Italian to take them off, which halted Spurs' momentum. Read below for the Magic Man's thoughts on Spurs' start to the season... 'De Zerbi should keep those comments in-house' I thought Spurs were fortunate against Nottingham Forest - if Neco Williams is a little bit braver, then Forest win. But it's a start for them. Roberto De Zerbi had a go at his forwards after the game. He also had a go at his medical staff for dictating his substitutions. You say that in the dressing room; don't come out and say it. You need to keep that in-house. That would worry me as a Spurs fan. De Zerbi does fall out with people. I don't know if he's covering himself there with those comments about the medical staff, because that could be kept quiet. He's having a go at them - and you saw what happened with Enzo Maresca at Chelsea when he started calling out the medical team for dictating his substitutions. He left a few weeks later. At the same time, if he's being told to take a player off, he's the manager. He's in charge. If it's not up to him how long his players get on the pitch, why shouldn't he cover himself? I don't understand having a go at the forwards, though. They didn't have 20 chances. It's not as if the Nottingham Forest goalkeeper was man of the match. I didn't see that at all. It's a long way to go for Spurs. But my problem is the mentality. You don't come 17th two years on the trot and expect to turn it around in a New York minute. I think people have got to be patient. Spurs shouldn't worry about being eight points behind Arsenal - all they've got to worry about is who's fifth, and how many points they're behind fifth. They're not finishing ahead of Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal. What De Zerbi said about forwards and medical staff On his forwards: "I think we played well but in the last third we have to improve. We have to take the better decisions. We have to keep more calm when we are very close to doing something important in the last third. "I remember the chance when Omar Marmoush shot at goal [in the second half], the way we had Robertson overlapping. If we take the right decision and we play with Andy Robertson then on the second post there is Kudus to score like this. "Or how many crosses went over the second post? From Mathys Tel, two times, Savio, one time. Savio, I think it's the last decision. "The ball from Pedro Porro on Mateus Fernandes when he played with Kudus and then for the header of Dominic Solanke, Mateus Fernandes was completely alone to go forward to score." On his medical staff influencing substitutions: "The second half, I'm sorry because the medical staff pushed to change Savinho and Udogie after 60 minutes. "[Replacements Mohammed] Kudus and [Andy] Robertson, they played very well. But two substitutions in that moment was not so good. "But now we can't take risk to injury again. Savio is too important for us. The same Destiny. Maybe we lost some balance, some connection. "I'm not happy. But football is like this. Savio has not the best physical condition to play 90 minutes. He's an important player for us, a crucial player. Destiny is another crucial player for us. "I think Kudus and Robertson, they played well. But, you know, to start one game like today, it's not so easy to come in from the bench and adapt immediately. "I'm not happy when we have the plan, but it's for my advantage, for my business, the management of the players after injuries." [Image text:] Ballyuer Balle