Robertson says Spurs must shed last season's baggage

Tottenham's new left-back says the club remains weighed down by its recent struggles but believes progress is building beneath the poor results.

Andy Robertson says Tottenham Hotspur have not yet freed themselves from the burden of a difficult previous campaign. The Scotland captain, who arrived in North London during the summer on a free transfer after nine years at Liverpool, made the comments on the 'Stick to Football' show on Disney+, in remarks carried by football.london.

Spurs are bottom of the Premier League after five matches without a victory and were eliminated from the Carabao Cup in the third round by a 3-1 defeat at Anfield, where Robertson was warmly welcomed back. He was one of 10 players brought in this summer as the club rebuilds under head coach Roberto De Zerbi, and he said the manager wants the new signings to help drive the team forward because they carry no baggage from two seasons that ended with 17th-place finishes.

Robertson pointed to recent performances as reason for encouragement despite the lack of results, saying the draw with Nottingham Forest was fair, Spurs should have beaten Everton, and the Newcastle United match was even for an hour. He believes a first win could unlock a strong season.

The 32-year-old also explained his move, revealing that Tottenham first approached him in January, when he had no plans to leave Liverpool mid-season. Once he accepted a departure was coming, he said Spurs were always his preferred destination provided they avoided relegation, and that video calls with De Zerbi over the summer convinced him the Italian was the right manager to work with.