Tottenham Hotspur have their first Premier League point of the season, a goalless draw at Nottingham Forest that followed opening defeats to Brentford and Newcastle United. This update, current as of September 2026, covers the De Zerbi on Marmoush Forest chance story in full, setting out what the manager actually said after that game.
Spurs arrived at the City Ground on the back of two league losses, including the opening defeat to Brentford. De Zerbi called the stalemate frustrating given how well his side had played. One second-half moment involving Omar Marmoush has kept fans talking, as attention turns to the Carabao Cup.
De Zerbi reflects on final-third decisions at City Ground
De Zerbi felt his team’s performance deserved more than a point. “Now is a tough moment to accept this result because I think we played well,” he said. Spurs had enjoyed long spells of control. None of it brought a goal.
His wider message focused on composure in the final third. Tottenham already have the attacking talent, in his view, to turn possession into goals. What they need now is sharper decision-making in the moments that decide matches.
What De Zerbi actually said about Omar Marmoush’s Forest chance
De Zerbi did not call Omar Marmoush selfish. That word came from media headlines, not from the manager himself. He described the passage of play calmly, without singling anyone out for blame.
“I remember the situation with [Omar] Marmoush when he shot and [Andy] Robertson was behind him overlapping,” De Zerbi said. He was recalling the second-half moment when Marmoush chose to shoot rather than square the ball to the overlapping Robertson, or find Mohammed Kudus in space.
He used the example to make a broader point about final-third choices across the team. “If we improve in the last third, I think we can score many goals because we have the players with big qualities,” De Zerbi added. That is the full De Zerbi on Marmoush Forest chance answer, stripped of a selfish label that never actually came from him. For the complete quotes in context, see our original coverage of De Zerbi’s comments.
What happens next for Spurs against Liverpool
Attention now turns to the Carabao Cup. Spurs prepare for their Carabao Cup clash with Liverpool next. De Zerbi will want the lessons from Forest, sharper finishing and smarter use of overlapping runners, to show up quickly against tougher opposition.
The draw at the City Ground leaves Tottenham still chasing their first league win of the season. De Zerbi’s comments suggest he is judging progress on performance, not the scoreline. For now, that will have to do.
