The international break is finally over, and Tottenham Hotspur are back in Premier League action on Saturday evening.

The start of Roberto De Zerbi’s first full season at White Hart Lane has been tougher than anyone at the club anticipated, with Spurs still searching for their first Premier League win. Saturday gives them a glorious chance to break the duck as the Lilywhites travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.

Both teams are struggling with form and injuries, so this could come down to which team wants the victory more and which side can produce the better version of themselves at Old Trafford. After the game, Roberto De Zerbi and the club have chalked up something unusual in the midst of the campaign.

Tottenham to fly to Marbella for team bonding

According to a report from BBC Sport, De Zerbi has organised a mid-season team bonding trip to Marbella, Spain. Spurs are set to fly out immediately after today’s big game against Manchester United.

With nine days between the Man United game and Monday’s home fixture against Coventry City, the Italian boss hopes spending time in southern Spain can improve morale of the squad and help the numerous new players settle in. He views this as a good opportunity to try and kickstart the club’s season.

While the sun-drenched training camp will offer ideal weather and state-of-the-art facilities, the expensively assembled Tottenham squad can connect away from the intense media spotlight and the pressure of the fans. The Lilywhites are sitting rock-bottom in the table heading into the Man United game. You could see that the current roster is devoid of confidence and imagination given the start that the North Londoners have endured.

De Zerbi has never shied away from expressing that his squad are mentally fragile. He wants his players to enjoy the game, tackle challenges with positivity rather than pressure. The Italian understands that there is a psychological repair job required at Hotspur Way before Tottenham can progress and do big things in the future.

The 47-year-old has been constant throughout his managerial career. De Zerbi builds relationships from trust, and from the kind of collective belief that cannot be installed through rigorous training sessions and tactical work. Whether an unusual, early-season team-bonding trip to Marbella can bring the players close that are still getting used to De Zerbi’s system is another question entirely.