Roberto De Zerbi was very clear and specific about what he wanted from Tottenham’s squad trip to Marbella, and the Spurs boss would hope that the trip has galvanised the squad.

With Spurs having a nine-day break between matches, the Tottenham boss chose to take the squad away from the UK weather so that his players can train in sunny Spain and bond as a group off the pitch.

De Zerbi has a habit of taking his players on mid-season trips, with his Marseille players responding brilliantly to the club’s two mid-season trips in the 2024-25 season by turning around their form.

In his press conference on Friday, the Spurs boss admitted that the trip would make the squad a ‘stronger group’ after the club made wholesale changes to the squad during the summer.

De Zerbi said about the trip: “Yes, we worked well. Very well, but anyway, we worked well in our training ground at home. I think when you have to improve, and I think we have to improve in the result, not in the quality of the performances, but you have to find all ways to improve. All ways to be better, all ways to become a stronger group.

“The players spend time together. They stay together a lot. I think to create something more than a normal first eleven no? Now I think and I believe in football, you need to create a group, you need the relationships, we need the connection and we need to know very well your teammates.”

Roberto De Zerbi wanted to make up for Tottenham’s lost pre-season opportunity

The Daily Mail has now revealed that the Italian wanted the sort of dedicated training operation that he felt the squad had been denied in pre-season.

Not only did the commercial commitments of the tour to Australia and New Zealand interfere with the squad’s training schedule, but many players also missed the tour due to the World Cup, while other signings only arrived late in the window.

As a result, the Italian wanted to have a mini pre-season at the Marbella Football Centre at La Quinta, a regular destination for Europe’s top clubs and national associations.

The facility features 38 pitches, gyms and massage areas, with the Tottenham boss taking his former club, Marseille, to the venue twice.

It is revealed that the Italian demanded no distractions from his players in Spain, making it clear that they are going to Marbella to work and spend time together.

The players stayed at a luxury retreat on the Costa del Sol west of Marbella, towards Estepona, called The Hacienda del Mar, which is branded as an ‘oasis of calm, authenticity and elegance’.

Tottenham kept everything under wraps during their time in Marbella, with no training footage appearing on the club’s social media platforms.

However, a group photo did emerge of the Spurs players with Anthony Joshua, whose gym they visited during their stay in Marbella.

Spurs’ season starts today

By the sounds of the pre-season-like work that the Tottenham squad did in Marbella, it appears that De Zerbi is treating this as a fresh start to the season.

The 10 new signings have now had some time to get accustomed to the Italian’s demands and the new environment, and they will be expected to deliver.

If Tottenham do overcome Coventry City this evening, one can see the squad growing in confidence and going on a good run.

However, a failure to win today could have the effect of sapping the players’ confidence, especially with a London derby at Stamford Bridge up next.