Roberto De Zerbi’s fears about Tottenham’s lack of firepower will be reinforced by his team’s latest preparation game.Conor Gallagher scored the equaliser as Spurs came from behind in a fractious 1-1 draw against Getafe over 70 minutes behind closed doors at the club’s training centre in Enfield.Positives included an instant response after going behind and more minutes in the tank, working through the stifling heat with two weeks to go before the Premier League season begins. Roberto De Zerbi’s concerns about a lack of firepower will be reinforced after their draw with GetafeLacking quality in front of goalSpurs backed De Zerbi’s desire to strengthen midfield and bring experience into the back four, but he wants more options up front with the club interested in Savinho and Cody Gakpo among others and it’s not difficult to see why.Richarlison led the line against Getafe, flanked in the front line by Mathys Tel and Mikey Moore, but the Brazilian who has strengths and was Spurs’ top scorer in the Premier League last season with 11 goals, issued a reminder that he does not have the instinct of a clinical predator.Two terrific chances came his way in the second half, both in the air and both saved by goalkeeper David Soria. One in the first half was headed wide. Ben Davies headed the best chance of the first half straight at Soria from a free kick, delivered by Andy Robertson.Moore chances slipping byIf this was Moore’s final opportunity to change De Zerbi’s thinking before a proposed loan move to Cologne, he might want to start packing for Germany.The teenage winger, deployed against Getafe on the right, has found it difficult to recapture the sparkle of his early performances in Spurs colours.He returned with a decent end-of-term report from a season at Rangers and is still very young, he will be 19 on Tuesday, but here he was again unable to impose his unquestionable talent on the game.Low crosses from Tel on the left fizzed past him at the back post and he could not find the target with a looping header in the second half. Tel offered little in the first half but was more effective in the second and showed hints of developing an understanding with Robertson, who adds the balance of a natural left footer often missing last season. Mikey Moore was unable to sparkle and looks set to make a season long loan to CologneGallagher on targetIf the strikers are misfiring Gallagher can be an alternative source of goals. Playing at his best, he will weigh in from midfield as he did against Getafe, driving forward onto a loose ball spilling out of a challenge on Richarlison, taking a touch and applying a firm low finish.Gallagher, signed for £35million from Atletico Madrid in January, started to show glimpses of form towards the end of last season and should benefit further when De Zerbi imposes his high intensity style.Against Getafe, they did not control possession as the Italian boss would want. There were flashes of Sandro Tonali, although the £100million midfielder was also easily distracted by a niggling late challenge.Van Hecke passing rangeThere were signs on display of what De Zerbi will demand from £54m centre-half Jan Paul van Hecke, who got on the ball and sought to spark attacking patterns from the back with early passes forward through the lines.His passing range is impressive. Although the Getafe goal came through his channel. Lucas Bergvall, in midfield beside Tonali, lost track of Alberto Risco. Van Hecke came out of the back four to try and avert the danger but Risco was too quick for him, played a one-two and beat Antonin Kinsky with a crisp shot. Jan Paul van Hecke will be key to Tottenham’s build-up with passes through the linesAbsent stars making hearts grow fonderDe Zerbi made no changes through the 70 minutes played with barely a break at half time, with lots of senior players involved in another training game played at the training ground on Saturday. Six young subs were named plus goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. None were used. HOW THEY LINED UP Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Kinsky; Gray, Van Hecke, Davies, Robertson; Tonali, Bergvall; Moore, Gallagher, Tel; Richarlison.Subs not used: Vicario, Takai, Donley, Scarlett, Yang, Hardy, Byrne. <!- – ad: https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/us/sport/football/article/other/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_1 – ->
Among those not involved against Getafe who are firmly back in the swing of preseason were Martin Dubravka, Kevin Danso, Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr, Mateus Fernandes, James Maddison and Dominic Solanke.De Zerbi did not appear too concerned as he reclined on the touchline. He will file it away as another valuable training exercise and look to strengthen the forward department before the deadline.Xavi’s touching gestureXavi Simons hosted the family of George Dennis, an 11-year-old Spurs fan killed by a lorry in Chipping Ongar in Essex in July, for the preseason friendly against Getafe on Saturday. Simons, who is out with a long-term knee injury, made the offer via social media after reading about the tragedy. The Netherlands international gave the family, including George’s cousin who witnessed the crash, a tour of the training ground and presented the children with Spurs shirts and boots and the parents with flowers before they all watched the 1-1 draw played behind closed doors. Xavi Simons hosted the family of George Dennis, an 11-year-old Spurs fan killed by a lorry in Essex in July – Simons is pictured with George’s elder brother and cousin