Roberto De Zerbi has taken an unconventional step to revive Tottenham Hotspur’s struggling season, revealing that players were banned from using their phones during meals at the club’s warm-weather training camp in Marbella.
The Italian coach is searching for solutions after Tottenham’s expensive summer rebuild failed to deliver immediate results. Spurs spent more than £380 million on 10 new signings, yet they remain bottom of the Premier League heading into Monday’s home clash with Coventry, having failed to win any of their opening six fixtures.
With pressure mounting, De Zerbi hopes a few days away in Spain can help his players build stronger relationships, improve communication and begin turning their fortunes around.
The former Marseille boss explained that the camp focused on togetherness, honest conversations and greater accountability, with mobile phones removed from breakfast, lunch and dinner to encourage players to spend more time interacting.
“We worked on the pitch, we stayed together — we removed phones from breakfast, lunch and dinner to stay together because now it is like [phone] all the time,” De Zerbi 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.”
De Zerbi stressed that the camp was not about imposing excessive restrictions. Asked whether players could go out independently while in Marbella, he made it clear that personal freedom remained part of his approach.
“Yes, with freedom. With no military rules. I love freedom.”
Beyond team bonding, Tottenham also received encouraging news on the injury front, with Dejan Kulusevski joining the squad in Spain after a lengthy spell on the sidelines. James Maddison was also involved as he continues his return from an anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered in 2025.
Maddison could feature against former club Coventry, although De Zerbi has yet to decide whether the midfielder is ready to start. The Spurs manager also offered an update on Xavi Simons, who remains unavailable while recovering from the same type of injury.
“I am very close with Xavi Simons for example in this moment. 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,” De Zerbi said.
The Tottenham boss acknowledged the importance of Kulusevski, even during his absence, and suggested that players returning from injury could still make a difference without immediately completing full matches.
“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.”
For Tottenham, the Marbella camp represents an attempt to fix more than results. De Zerbi is working to turn a squad assembled at enormous cost into a cohesive unit capable of responding under pressure.
The immediate test comes against Coventry, where Spurs need their first league victory of the campaign. Whether a few days of shared meals, phone-free conversations and tactical work can spark a turnaround will soon become clear.
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