De Zerbi: Spurs' 3-2 Villa defeat was unacceptable

Roberto De Zerbi criticised Tottenham's defensive discipline after a 3-2 Premier League home defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday, calling the manner of the loss "unacceptable".

"We can't lose this game in this way, absolutely. We can't concede the second goal," De Zerbi said. "We can't lose balance just because in the first half we are losing."

De Zerbi pointed to Spurs conceding while reduced to ten men as a key turning point, and said his side had been warned about Villa's increased use of long balls this season. "We knew before the game, because this season, Aston Villa are playing 86% more long balls than last season. We spoke in many, many meetings," he said. "Then we concede an unacceptable goal from a long kick."

On his decision to substitute Matheus Fernandes for Mo Kudus, the Italian coach said the change cost the team midfield balance. "It's not an attack of Mateus. I love Mateus... but I think for Mateus we needed more from Mateus because he can even more in that position," De Zerbi said.

When pressed on whether Tottenham erred by not signing a dedicated centre-forward — with Aston Villa's Nicholas Jackson drawing praise from the floor — De Zerbi cited financial fair play constraints. "If we didn't make any different decisions, it was because we couldn't," he said.

De Zerbi also confirmed that striker Dominic Solanke remains in his plans despite a difficult run of form. "I like Domi as a player and I stay with him until the end," he said, while acknowledging Solanke's physical condition was "not good enough."

Tottenham now enter an international break, with De Zerbi indicating he intends to use the time with the players remaining at the club to improve both fitness and performance levels.