Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has pointed to the club's pre-season tour of Australia as a key factor behind their poor physical condition following a 3-0 opening-day defeat to Brentford.

De Zerbi acknowledged that Tottenham are behind schedule in terms of fitness, explaining that the long-haul travel to Australia prevented the squad from training at the necessary intensity. With the risk of injury a constant concern on such trips, the coaching staff opted to avoid pushing players too hard — a decision that has left them short of match sharpness at the start of the Premier League season.