One defeat can be dismissed as a bad afternoon. Five matches without a win is a trend, and the league position makes the situation harder to defend. Tottenham’s latest scoreline showed they remained within one goal of Villa, but the result still extended a run that has delivered no victory.
The timing also matters. The international break offers breathing space, yet it creates a sharper public focus on the manager. With no immediate fixture to change the mood, scrutiny around De Zerbi is likely to dominate the next fortnight.
The manager’s short-term challenge is straightforward: Tottenham need a win. A promising performance will carry limited weight while Spurs remain in the relegation zone and their unbeaten-start hopes have disappeared.
The five-match sequence also removes the argument that the Villa defeat was an isolated setback. De Zerbi must find a response that changes the league trend, whether through selection, shape or a more controlled approach in decisive moments.
Tottenham’s hierarchy now faces a choice between backing the manager through a poor start and making a change before the position worsens. The 2-3 scoreline may provide some evidence of competitiveness, but the winless record remains the defining fact.
When Premier League football resumes after the international break, the next fixture will carry more than three points. It will be an early verdict on whether De Zerbi can reverse Tottenham’s slide or whether pressure turns into a managerial decision.