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Marcos Senesi shines as Tottenham’s defeat to Brentford exposes major concerns under Roberto De Zerbi. Tottenham Hotspur suffered a nightmare start to their 2026-27 Premier League campaign as Roberto De Zerbi’s side were thoroughly outplayed in a 3-0 defeat to Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium. Goals from Keane Lewis-Potter, Vitaly Janelt, and Michael Kayode condemned Spurs to a miserable opening afternoon, completely shattering the optimism built over pre-season. Following last season’s harrowing escape from relegation, this match was meant to signal the start of a brave new era under De Zerbi. Instead, old flaws resurfaced in brutal fashion. These are the winners and losers from a sobering day in West London. Winners Marcos Senesi: The absolute lone bright spot on an otherwise wretched afternoon for Tottenham. Arriving on a free transfer from Bournemouth, the Argentine central defender produced a masterclass in defensive resilience on his competitive debut. Senesi topped the match stats with 79 touches and 15 defensive contributions, while completing 53 of his 59 passes and executing a vital last-man tackle in the second half. While those around him crumbled, Senesi proved he has the composure, physical authority, and positional intelligence required to anchor De Zerbi’s backline this season. Rodrigo Bentancur: Introduced at half-time after a chaotic opening 45 minutes, the Uruguayan midfielder brought immediate structure and calming influence to Tottenham’s midfield engine room. Replacing Conor Gallagher at the break, Bentancur stabilized possession, recycled the ball cleanly under pressure, and stopped Brentford from utterly dominating central areas in the second half. His steadying presence proved why he remains an essential tactical anchor for De Zerbi when the team is under siege. The Late Transfer Push: If anyone inside the Tottenham hierarchy needed final proof that the squad requires immediate, high-grade additions before the transfer deadline, Saturday provided an undeniable wake-up call. The total lack of attacking penetration and goalkeeper stability gives complete justification to accelerate Spurs’ £85 million package for Savinho, wrap up negotiations for Omar Marmoush, and push through fee agreements with Liverpool for Cody Gakpo before the window closes. Losers Lucas Bergvall: A nightmarish 45 minutes that could have severe long-term consequences for his Tottenham career. Handed a starting spot due to squad injuries, the 20-year-old Swede delivered a disastrous performance capped by a fatal lapse of judgment. Attempting a soft trick to roll the ball past Mathias Jensen inside his own half, Bergvall was dispossessed, triggering the sequence that led directly to Brentford’s second goal. Hooked at half-time after completing just 17 passes and losing key duels, his place in De Zerbi’s plans is once again under serious threat. Antonin Kinsky: Failed his first major exam as Guglielmo Vicario’s potential long-term successor. Following Vicario’s departure to Juventus earlier this month, Kinsky was given the gloves to prove he could be Tottenham’s new primary shot-stopper(after also looking convincing towards the end of last season). Instead, he looked hesitant and unconvincing throughout. His weak parry from Mathias Jensen’s shot directly into the path of Vitaly Janelt was a costly error, underlining why Spurs must urgently recruit an established elite goalkeeper before the transfer window shuts. Roberto De Zerbi: After declaring pre-match that his squad had not forgotten how rivals tried to crush them during last season’s relegation battle, De Zerbi saw his team produce a passive, disjointed performance. His midfield selection failed to gain any control, his attacking options were completely starved of service, and his defense looked completely vulnerable to physical pressing. De Zerbi now faces immediate pressure to deliver a massive tactical response against Charlton in the League Cup on Wednesday night.