Tottenham Hotspur head coach Roberto Di Zerbi has admitted his side failed to compete with the necessary intensity in their 3-0 defeat to Brentford — a sobering opening to the 2026-27 Premier League season.

Di Zerbi described his team's performance as a failure to "fight in the right way," suggesting that Tottenham Hotspur's effort and mentality fell short rather than simply their quality on the ball.

The result hands Brentford a commanding start to the new campaign, while Tottenham Hotspur face immediate questions heading into the weeks ahead after being outplayed from the first whistle.

For Di Zerbi, who took charge of Tottenham Hotspur with ambitions of reshaping the club's fortunes, the defeat serves as a stark early warning that his side must raise their standards — both physically and mentally — if they are to compete at the top end of the Premier League table.