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Club-record signing Sandro Tonali is adapting to life at Tottenham. The 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United last weekend was a painful reminder to Tottenham Hotspur that the path back to the top is much more complicated, and massive spending on new faces would not solve all their problems. Several signings were included in the starting XI, featuring club-record signing Sandro Tonali. Newcastle United were reluctant to let Sandro Tonali leave, but Tottenham officials managed to convince them with a package worth £100m. And throughout his time on the pitch, the travelling Geordies booed and jeered the Italian midfielder every time he touched the ball or misplaced a pass. Truly, Sandro Tonali has not had an ideal start to life in N17. The 26-year-old’s arrival was the statement of intent the Lilywhites were looking for in the summer, but across two games, he has looked average and not convinced the Spurs faithful. Roberto De Zerbi opens up on Sandro Tonali’s tough start to life at Tottenham Club-record signing and the highest-paid player in the squad, the scrutiny of Tonali is very obvious. The expectations are lofty, and so far, he has failed to live up to it. De Zerbi came to his compatriot’s defence after the Newcastle defeat, suggesting that the player is lacking 100 per cent physical fitness despite having a full pre-season under his belt. The Italy international was on the wrong side of a defeat against his former employers. The Tottenham boss has now opened up on Tonali’s tough start to life in North London. The 47-year-old is remaining positive despite the two league losses, making it clear that Tonali is an important player for his project. “Yes, and he started the game very well, for example, with Chelsea or Hoffenheim. I think it can happen also the time maybe he needs more time to understand a new club. I remember in the first season in AC Milan, the second season, they won the Scudetto, Serie A, but in the first season he suffered,” De Zerbi said in his press conference (h/t Football London). “And then in the second season…. Hopefully, we want him to play at a good level already in the first season, but maybe for a new player, it’s different now, the dressing room.” Chance for Tonali to silence his critics Tottenham’s next game is against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, and given the recent results between the clubs, it is clear that the hosts are favourites on paper. For De Zerbi’s side to get their first win of the campaign, they will have to fight for everything from minute one to the last. Tonali has to be central to everything Tottenham does against Forest on Saturday. The onus will be on him to take control of the game as early as possible and dictate terms. He has been heavily criticised for his performances against Brentford and Newcastle, but the weekend’s fixture represents an opportunity for the Italian midfielder to demonstrate why Tottenham were right to pay a premium for his services.