Roberto De Zerbi reveals he banned phones in an effort to change Tottenham's fortunes

· Mirror

Tottenham go into Monday's clash with Coventry looking for their first win of the Premier League season, and Roberto De Zerbi is leaving no stone unturned in his bid to lift Spurs off the bottom

Roberto De Zerbi has revealed that he put a ban on mobile phones during Tottenham's warm-weather training camp. The Spurs boss took his squad to Marbella, Spain in his latest effort to change their fortunes.

Tottenham are languihsing rock bottom of the Premier League table ahead of facing newly promoted Coventry in a crunch match on Monday. De Zerbi's side have mustered just three points from their opening six games, and they're now the only team still waiting for their first Premier League win of the season after Fulham beat Hull on Saturday.

Spurs shelled out more than £380million in the summer transfer window, making 10 new signings after narrowly avoiding relegation last season. But after their dire start this term, De Zerbi is searching for 'solutions' that can change his side's fortunes.

> "We worked on the pitch, we stayed together - we removed phones from breakfast, lunch and dinner to stay together because now it is like (being on phones) all the time," the Italian told a press conference.

> "We had two or three important meetings speaking about football, our situation and how everyone has to take responsibility. And nothing more."

> "There were some dinners just for the players, some dinners just for the staff. As a coach you understand you have to improve, you have to change the situation and you try to find all solutions."

> "I already did this type of training camp two times with Marseille and it was a good solution. I spoke with the club, with Vinai (Venkatesham), with Johan (Lange), with the owner and together we took the decision, but it's nothing special."

> "It's just to spend more time together because in pre-season we couldn't. We had many new players and players who came back from the World Cup. Three or four days together without family, putting the club at the top of their priorities, is normal and is good."

With all eyes on Coventry, De Zerbi has been boosted by the long-awaited return of Dejan Kulusevski. The winger has been out of action for 526 days due to complications with a serious knee injury, but he's expected to be on the bench at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Meanwhile, James Maddison could start for the first time in 2026 after a long-term layoff of his own. Xavi Simons, however, will remain sidelined until the new year.

> "I am very close with Xavi Simons, for example, in this moment," De Zerbi explained. "I follow him step by step in his journey as an injured player. Like Maddison, because the management of Maddison is totally different. He is another special player and now is available to play.

> "Kulusevski was a very important player, even last season when he was injured. It is a part of this job for the players, but at the same time can be a crucial moment to become better, to become stronger.

> "You need to play many games to reach the best physical condition but there are players able to be important, even if they play 10, 15 or 20 minutes and James is one player like this. Right now he is ready to start the game, but I don't know if we will start with him. I'm waiting for that moment."

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