Roberto De Zerbi Imposes Phone Ban at Tottenham to Unite Squad Amid Winless Streak

Roberto De Zerbi Enforces Phone Ban During Marbella Camp

Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has introduced a strict no-phone rule during team meals as part of efforts to bring his squad closer together. This move comes after the club failed to win any of their opening six Premier League matches, leaving them at the bottom of the table.

Marbella Training Camp and New Rules

In an attempt to reverse their poor start, De Zerbi took the team to Marbella for a warm-weather training camp. Despite splashing out £380 million on ten new players over the summer, the results have been disappointing. To encourage better team chemistry, phones were banned during all shared meals so players could focus on face-to-face interaction.

De Zerbi’s Explanation

"We worked on the pitch, we stayed together - we removed phones from breakfast, lunch and dinner to stay together because now it is like [phone] all the time," De Zerbi said to reporters. He added that several serious discussions took place during the trip about the team's performance and responsibility.

The coach mentioned that similar camps had proven effective in his previous role at Marseille. The goal was to spend uninterrupted time together, especially since the squad features many new faces and some players returning from the World Cup. Players were free to explore the city outside training hours, with no strict rules imposed.

Tensions with Richarlison

Meanwhile, tensions have risen between De Zerbi and forward Richarlison. The Brazilian striker was left out of the Premier League squad and assigned to the Under-21s following unsuccessful transfer attempts during the summer. Former Everton boss Duncan Ferguson criticized this treatment, suggesting support should be shown rather than exclusion.

Ferguson said, "I don’t know if they’ve had a massive fall-out, and knowing Richy they probably have, but you’ve got to put your arm around him. You don’t leave a player like that out unless there’s been a real murder." Richarlison responded by thanking Ferguson on Instagram, agreeing with his comments.

De Zerbi dismissed questions about the situation, saying, "It's not my problem anymore. You have to ask Vinai or Johan."

Upcoming Match Against Coventry City

Tottenham's next challenge is a crucial Premier League fixture at home against Coventry City. Securing a first league win is critical for De Zerbi to ease pressure on himself and the club's expensive rebuild.

Failure to win will likely increase scrutiny on the team and management amid ongoing instability behind the scenes. This match is seen as a must-win if Spurs are to steady their season and climb off the bottom of the table.

• Match: Tottenham Hotspur vs Coventry City
• Date: 19 October 2026
• Competition: Premier League
• Kickoff Time: 22:00