'Money cannot buy mentality' – Austin on same page as De Zerbi
Former Premier League striker Charlie Austin believes Tottenham's current form is "alarming", particularly when bringing the length of Roberto de Zerbi's tenure and the club's transfer window spending into the equation.
Tottenham have only won three of their past 23 league games on home soil, with the latest sucker punch coming in Sunday's 2-0 defeat by Newcastle United.
"They have been in the exact same position in the Premier League for the past two seasons," Austin said on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "But we all thought they would be a different proposition this year because they have spent money.
"The alarming side of it all is Roberto de Zerbi came in with six games to go at the end of last season, compared to Matthias Jaissle with two and a half to three weeks of pre-season under his belt – yet Jaissle has delivered two exciting performances.
"So it doesn't matter how much money you spend. As De Zerbi said: 'Money cannot buy mentality.' As an ex-professional footballer, I know it is something you cannot put a price tag on.
"They have all of these players in, but it is about gelling them now. It will take time, I really do understand that, but Tottenham, collectively, need to understand where they are at the moment."
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