Roberto De Zerbi says Tottenham cannot expect their new signings to click instantly, "like in Football Manager", amid their winless start to the season.

Spurs did at least avoid defeat for the first time in the Premier League this campaign on Saturday, though they are still goalless after a 0-0 draw with Nottingham Forest.

With Aston Villa and Coventry City also yet to find the net, this is the first Premier League season to ever have as many as three goalless teams after three matchdays.

It is the first time Spurs have failed to win any of their opening three matches since 2015-16, and the first time a De Zerbi team has gone three straight games without a goal in Europe's top five leagues since January 2024, when he was at Brighton.

Spurs spent over £350m to rebuild their squad this summer, with Jan Paul van Hecke, Sandro Tonali, Savio and Omar Marmoush the four new arrivals to start at the City Ground.

But De Zerbi says patience will be required as their new signings bed in and immediate results should not be expected. 

"We bought very, very good players, but you can't just build the team with all the names, like in Football Manager," De Zerbi told Sky Sports.

"We are disappointed with the result, but for the performance, we are very happy. Considering we started working together last Thursday for the first time, for the first day.

"We have to improve in every part of football, our organisation with and without the ball. [Against Forest], I thought we defended very well.

"We have to work because I think we played very well with the ball; we found the solutions. I think we can be much better in the final third."

Spurs concluded their transfer business with a double deal from Chelsea, as Mykhailo Mudryk arrived on a season-long loan and Tosin Adarabioyo came in for £7m.

Mudryk – who was only cleared to return recently after missing 20 months due to a doping ban that was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport – came off the bench in the 74th minute on Saturday.

And De Zerbi says the Ukraine international must be integrated slowly as he competes with Mathys Tel for a starting spot on the left wing. 

"He needs time, and he needs work; we have in that position Mathys Tel – big potential – but also Tel takes too many wrong decisions," De Zerbi said of Mudryk. "They are two big players with potential."

Tottenham are at home to Everton in their next Premier League match in six days' time, before visiting Liverpool in the third round of the EFL Cup on September 15.