Troy Deeney and talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook have launched spectacular attacks on Roberto De Zerbi for what he said and the way he behaved following Tottenham’s 0-0 draw with Everton.
Like all Tottenham fans, the Italian was extremely deflated after seeing his side fail to score for the fourth Premier League game in a row on Saturday.
After the game, De Zerbi indicated that the Spurs players are not at the required physical level yet, and admitted that four goals with a goal is tough to expect, given the chances his side have created.
The Tottenham boss also suggested that his players may have a mental block in front of goal, and that the fact that the team is goal-less is playing on their minds.
Alex Crook believes things are unravelling for Roberto De Zerbi at Tottenham
De Zerbi was also seen engaged in a serious argument with Mathys Tel after the full-time whistle, with the Tottenham boss later clarifying that he has no issues with the Frenchman.
However, Crook believes that there are already signs that the wheels are coming off for the Italian at Spurs, suggesting that he is making excuses and shifting blame.
The journalist told talkSPORT: “I think this is going to unravel pretty quickly for Tottenham and Roberto De Zerbi because he’s already getting his excuses in.
“I think he mentioned the number of passes they played, the number of opportunities they had, and he was basically saying, ‘well, it’s not my fault my team can’t put the ball in the back of the net. We kept a clean sheet; therefore, I’ve done my job.’
“But he is already passing responsibility. He is already outing players like Tel. I don’t think this is going to last very long.”
Troy Deeney accused De Zerbi of being a bully
Deeney was also critical of the way De Zerbi has treated Richarlison, who has been left out of Tottenham’s Premier League squad.
The former Watford striker suggested that the 46-year-old made the Brazilian look silly and questioned why his summer signings are not performing.
Deeney said: “What he (De Zerbi) is already doing is laying into everybody else, the media, the fans and saying, ‘there’s your problem, it’s not me’. He stinks to me as a bit of a bully, to be honest.
“Richarlison, who I am not the biggest fan of, is not the same kid I knew at Watford, but he’d been doing alright now. He has a bit of fight about him and puts his body around and maybe get a goal.
“Now, he’s not even in the squad, so Richarlison was a problem, and you made him look silly. Now, it’s Tel, and it’s so cheap and easy to find one person and say, ‘you’re the problem.’ What about [Mateus] Fernandes? The kid you spent £85million on? He was f****** mint again, wasn’t he?
“[Sandro] Tonali, who you spent £100m on. Can he pass it and dictate a game? What about the winger you brought in [Savio]? Or are you going to just let [Omar] Marmoush keep shooting from 65 yards, so at some point, it’s got to be with the lads. I think his ability to self-harm and self-sabotage is going to be the unravelling of this over the next four to five weeks.”