Tottenham have publicly backed Roberto De Zerbi despite a difficult start to the 2026/27 Premier League season, with chief executive Vinai Venkatesham calling for patience as the club’s extensive rebuild takes shape.
Spurs are bottom of the table after taking just two points from their opening five matches, increasing pressure on De Zerbi after a summer in which more than £380 million was spent on new players.
Venkatesham set out his support for the manager, Tottenham’s arrivals and the wider changes at the club during the first Fan Advisory Board meeting of the season.
Tottenham’s summer rebuild needs time, says Venkatesham
Ten players joined Tottenham during the transfer window, including Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Savio. Several experienced members of the squad left as the club pursued a substantial reshaping of its playing staff.
Venkatesham acknowledged supporters’ frustration with the early results but said Tottenham had undergone “significant changes” both on and off the pitch. He indicated that those changes would need time to settle.
The chief executive has also highlighted encouraging aspects of the team’s performances since the opening-day defeat by Brentford, although Spurs have been unable to convert promising spells into victories.
The scale of the investment means expectations remain high. Tottenham are understood to have raised around £150 million through player sales, while the Lewis family recently provided a further £120 million injection into the club.
That financial commitment represents a major backing of De Zerbi’s project, making visible progress increasingly important despite the board’s public show of faith.
Tottenham have finished 17th in each of the past two seasons and cannot afford for another prolonged spell near the foot of the table. The message from the club is that the rebuild remains on course, but performances will now need to produce points.
