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Robertson: Competition for places will help Tottenham avoid

After two consecutive years of struggling not to go down, Andy Robertson believes that competitiveness at Tottenham will be essential for a better performance this season.

27 July 2026
Robertson: Competition for places will help Tottenham avoid

Robertson: Competition for seats will help Tottenham avoid

According to Soccernews.

Context

Andy Robertson, Scottish full-back, is one of Tottenham Hotspur's new reinforcements, joining other players such as Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka, who also arrived for free. His experience in Premier League football could be a determining factor in the team's development, especially after the difficulties faced in recent seasons.

Why this matters

Andy Robertson's arrival at Tottenham Hotspur represents a significant addition to the team, especially considering the need for reinforcements after two seasons of battling relegation. Competitiveness between players, including the fight for a place in the starting team, can boost the team's performance in the Premier League, helping to avoid a new battle for survival. Robertson's experience could be crucial to the team's stability and development.

Main conclusions

  • Robertson: Competition for places will help Tottenham avoid it.
  • After two consecutive years struggling not to fall, Andy Robertson believes that competitiveness at Tottenham will be essential for a better performance this season.
  • Robertson: Competition for places will help Spurs avoid future relegation battles.

Andy Robertson expressed confidence about the competition for places in the Tottenham Hotspur squad, saying this will be crucial to improving the team's performance in the Premier League. After finishing 17th in the last two seasons, Tottenham narrowly avoided relegation with a victory over Everton on the final day of the 2025-26 season. This was the first time that the London team had finished so low in two consecutive seasons since a run of three seasons between 1912-13 and 1914-15, where they also ranked 17th on two occasions and 20th on one of them.

Roberto De Zerbi's arrival at the end of last season helped turn Tottenham's fortunes around, and the club have been active in the transfer market over the summer. Spurs invested a record £100m in signing Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United, and also secured Mateus Fernandes for £85m and Jan Paul van Hecke for £52m. Furthermore, Robertson is one of three players who arrived on a free transfer, joining Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka as new reinforcements.

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The Scottish full-back knows he will have to compete with Destiny Udogie, Souza and possibly Djed Spence for a place in the starting eleven. However, Robertson sees this competition as a positive thing. "When you go to big clubs, if you look at all the big clubs, it's not easy in any position," Robertson said. "Pre-season is extremely important. They are trying to integrate us as quickly as possible."

He added: "The club, the coach and the people above are trying to create a squad where there is competition in every position. You don't stay at the top, and you don't play for big clubs, if we're not ready to compete for places, if we're not ready to fight for our positions, and that applies to everyone. For me, that's something I've been used to over the last nine years. It's something I'll be used to until the end of my career. It's nothing new for me. The quality of the players in this squad is very good. If we can get the most of all this, then, as the coach said, the last two seasons in the Premier League have not been satisfactory for Tottenham.

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What happens next

With pre-season underway, Robertson must quickly integrate into the group and adapt to Roberto De Zerbi's style of play. Competition from the likes of Destiny Udogie and Djed Spence will be intense, but Robertson is ready to take on that challenge. Tottenham, following significant investment in the transfer market, hope these signings will result in a substantial improvement in their Premier League standings.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Andy Robertson?

Andy Robertson is a Scottish full-back who joined Tottenham Hotspur as one of their new signings.

Where did Sandro Tonali come from?

Sandro Tonali joined Tottenham Hotspur from Newcastle United.

Why did Andy Robertson choose Tottenham?

Andy Robertson believes competition for places in the squad will help improve Tottenham's Premier League performance.

What is Andy Robertson's contract status?

Andy Robertson arrived at Tottenham Hotspur for free.

What will Andy Robertson's role be in the team?

Andy Robertson will have to compete for a place in the starting lineup against the likes of Destiny Udogie and Djed Spence.

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