Merson warns De Zerbi against airing grievances publicly

Spurs drew 0-0 with Forest without a shot on target, extending their wait for a first Premier League goal. De Zerbi said his forwards need to make "better decisions" in the final third, and revealed frustration that his medical team told him Savio and Destiny Udogie could only play 60 minutes.

In his Sky Sports column, Merson suggests such grievances should remain private. "You say that in the dressing room; don't come out and say it," he writes. "You need to keep that in-house. That would worry me as a Spurs fan. De Zerbi does fall out with people."

Merson draws a parallel with Enzo Maresca at Chelsea, who left weeks after publicly calling out the medical department over substitution decisions. However, he also recognises De Zerbi's dilemma: if the manager isn't ultimately deciding player rotation, he may feel compelled to defend his position.

On the forwards, Merson is more sympathetic to De Zerbi's point about decision-making in the final third, though he questions whether the lack of attacking threat was primarily their fault. "I don't understand having a go at the forwards, though. They didn't have 20 chances."

Merson urges patience with Spurs' rebuild, noting they shouldn't measure themselves against Arsenal or the traditional "big four" but instead focus on climbing above fifth place.