Tottenham are planning an early-season training camp in Marbella after Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Manchester United.
Head coach Roberto De Zerbi will hope the trip can help revive Spurs’ fortunes, with the club sitting bottom of the Premier League after collecting just two points from their opening five matches.
Once the Old Trafford fixture is over, Tottenham will have nine days to prepare before welcoming Coventry on Monday, October 19.
The visit to southern Spain should give De Zerbi and his players valuable time together following a summer of major change at the club.
Tottenham recruited 10 players for approximately £250million during the transfer window, with several arrivals coming late and having limited opportunities to build relationships with their new team-mates.
The Marbella camp will also offer Spurs a chance to train in significantly warmer conditions. Temperatures are expected to reach 25 degrees, providing a sharp contrast to the rain forecast in north London.
Tottenham are set to travel to Marbella for a training camp following their clash with Manchester United
De Zerbi hopes the trip can help change Tottenham’s fortunes after their difficult start to the season
De Zerbi had already voiced his frustration during pre-season over the limited time available to develop his new squad. Tottenham’s tours of New Zealand and Australia disrupted preparations, while several players also returned late after the World Cup.
The Italian is no stranger to using team events to strengthen unity. Toward the end of last season, his players visited Mayfair restaurant Bacchanalia for a bonding dinner as they attempted to relieve the pressure of a relegation battle.
However, a warm-weather camp so early in the campaign is an unusual move. Such trips are more commonly arranged during the winter, when clubs seek sunshine and recovery time amid a demanding fixture schedule.
Tottenham entered the international break on the back of a 3-2 home defeat by Aston Villa, a result that left De Zerbi visibly angry with his team’s display.
“I was very disappointed, very sad, very frustrated for the performance,” De Zerbi said. “We can’t lose this game in this way, absolutely.”
He added: “We can’t concede the second goal. We can’t lose balance. In the beginning of the second half I spoke with the four attackers, to use their heads, be calm.”
“It was minute 51. All the second half, be calm, play, enjoy, don’t take risks. But the goal we conceded, the second goal was incredible.”
De Zerbi continued: “I don’t know if some players lost energy, but we conceded an unacceptable goal from a long goal kick, with a long ball. We knew Aston Villa are playing 86 per cent more long balls than last season. We spoke about it in many meetings.”
“Then we have to explain another game like Newcastle, where we play well in the first half and then lose. For sure it’s an aspect.”
He accepted responsibility for the result, saying: “It’s my responsibility, I don’t want to leave without taking my responsibility, but in that moment of the game, when the game is different to ball possession, to playing in the last third, because we can’t play for 90 minutes in the last third like the first half, because there is an opponent.”
The Tottenham boss also stressed the need for greater defensive discipline: “Aston Villa is not such a bad team. It is a good team, good players and the moment we have to defend, we have to defend compact. The leaders have to be leaders and lead the team.”
The Marbella camp will give De Zerbi additional time to work with new arrivals, including Savio
‘Football is like life, either you are stronger or you lose.’
De Zerbi vowed to work harder and improve in the aftermath of the defeat but accused his players of losing their way when things conspired against them.
‘In the second half, we lost balance because we were losing,’ added the Spurs boss. ‘We forced the pass, forced the situation, lost the ball.’
Before the next international break, Spurs also face Coventry, Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Leeds in what is likely to be a crunch month for the Italian.
