Tottenham Hotspur head coach Roberto de Zerbi has called on his players to show greater mental toughness after they fell to a 2-3 home defeat against Aston Villa in the Premier League.

Rather than pointing to technical shortcomings, de Zerbi made clear that his primary concern is with the squad's attitude and character. He insisted that Tottenham "have to be stronger" and urged the group to bring more than just polished football to their performances.

"Blood and fight" — those were the words de Zerbi used to describe what he expects from his players, signalling that a shift in mentality is as important to him as any tactical adjustment.

The loss leaves Tottenham under fresh pressure in the Premier League, and de Zerbi's message was unambiguous: improvement must come from within, driven by desire and determination rather than a simple upturn in quality.