Tottenham hierarchy back Roberto De Zerbi despite dismal start to the season

Tottenham chief executive Vinai Venkatesham has publicly backed manager Roberto De Zerbi following a difficult start to the campaign. Spurs sit bottom of the Premier League table and are still searching for their first win after five games, despite spending over £380 million in the summer transfer window.

Speaking at the inaugural Fan Advisory Board meeting, Venkatesham highlighted the positives in the team's performances. He stressed that the side are creating plenty of goalscoring opportunities, despite failing to find the net against Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, and Everton, and added that he has seen encouraging signs ever since the opening-day defeat to Brentford.

The Spurs chief acknowledged supporters' frustration over their poor points tally, especially following last season's struggles. However, he insisted the club retains full faith in De Zerbi's project and the squad's rebuild, which saw 10 new arrivals and the departures of key figures such as Guglielmo Vicario, Djed Spence, Cristian Romero, Kevin Danso, and Joao Palhinha.

"During the summer window, we undertook major structural changes both on and off the pitch. We know it will take time for the full potential of these decisions to be realised," Venkatesham told supporters.

Tottenham invested heavily in the likes of Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, and Savio, while recouping around £150 million through player sales. The most notable departure was young talent Luka Vuskovic, who joined Brighton for £50 million. Further substantial windfalls are expected next summer through mandatory buy clauses in the loan deals of Radu Dragusin and Kevin Danso, alongside purchase options for Vicario and Pape Matar Sarr at Juventus.

Last month, majority owners the Lewis family injected £120 million in capital, though financial constraints remain a significant challenge. Venkatesham explained that the north London club had to become far more efficient in player trading to comply with stringent financial regulations.

Spurs have not posted a profit since 2019 amid rising wage and transfer expenses. The club's financial situation has been further compounded by back-to-back 17th-place league finishes and a complete absence of European football revenue this season.