De Zerbi: Tottenham must be stronger after 2-3 loss to Aston Villa

Tottenham Hotspur lost 2-3 to Aston Villa in the Premier League, and head coach Roberto de Zerbi said his players have to be stronger.

The result was reported on 19 September, with De Zerbi speaking straight after the match in a video interview published by BBC Sport.

Spurs scored twice but still finished with nothing in a five-goal game. In England's top division, three points go to the winner even in a close loss. There is no reward for scoring twice if the other side scores three.

De Zerbi did not want to talk about quality. He said the issue was the squad's "behaviour" rather than ability. The line was blunt. Talent was not the problem.

"We have to be stronger," he said. He also called for "blood and fight" alongside better play. In plain terms, he wants his team to compete harder for every ball, to tackle, to sprint back, to stay switched on when momentum turns.

What makes this stand out is the directness. Many coaches soften a 2-3 defeat. De Zerbi sharpened it. He put character first and football second.

Five goals usually means a loud, back-and-forth afternoon. Villa handled those key moments better on the day. Spurs were left with regrets.

There had been only one change to his starting team. Returning full-back Pedro Porro came in for the Villa game, the sole switch from the side that faced Everton the previous weekend, according to Tottenham Hotspur. Full-back is the wide defensive role that also joins the attack. De Zerbi otherwise kept faith with the same group.

The tone fits his recent mood. Before the Everton match on 11 September, De Zerbi said he was "not happy" because he suffers defeat and suffers when his team does not score, according to Tottenham Hotspur. Against Villa, Spurs did score twice. It still was not enough.

For fans, this means a frustrating watch. Two goals usually gives you a platform for at least a point. Here it gave Spurs only a reminder of how fine the margins are. Villa took all three points.

Spurs must now answer that challenge. Stronger, better behaviour, more fight. The next performance will show if the words landed.