De Zerbi backs Tottenham medical team before Chelsea clash
Roberto De Zerbi has backed Tottenham’s medical department ahead of Saturday night’s trip to Chelsea, insisting the club’s injury problems are within the normal demands of football rather than the result of poor staff work.
Spurs assess key doubts before Stamford Bridge test
Tottenham face Chelsea with their squad again stretched. Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison are being monitored after their preparation was interrupted this week, despite both featuring in Monday’s victory over Coventry.
Destiny Udogie is still unavailable, while Tosin Adarabioyo faces a race to prove his fitness. There is better news at right-back, where Pedro Porro is ready for selection.
De Zerbi rejected any criticism of the medical team, saying he has full belief in the work being carried out behind the scenes. He described the current situation as a standard challenge for a club dealing with a demanding calendar.
De Zerbi identifies circumstances behind injuries
The Tottenham boss pointed to individual cases rather than a wider failure in injury management. Porro’s hamstring issue began during the World Cup, he said, and the defender then returned against Aston Villa before he was fully ready, leading to another setback.
Lucas Bergvall’s problem, meanwhile, stemmed from an early challenge against Manchester United. De Zerbi said the midfielder twisted his knee, completed the match, then felt pain the following day.
He also cited Andy Robertson’s workload after four successive international appearances. Robertson was fatigued against Coventry after playing six matches in 20 days, with De Zerbi viewing that as an understandable physical response.
- Porro sustained an initial hamstring problem during the World Cup.
- He returned for the Aston Villa match but suffered a further injury after coming back too soon.
- Bergvall hurt his knee in a tackle early in the Manchester United game and felt worse the next day.
- Robertson reported fatigue against Coventry following a heavy run of club and international fixtures.
- Tottenham will conduct a full fitness review at the end of the campaign.
Chelsea record adds pressure to derby
Tottenham’s task is made harder by a dismal history at Stamford Bridge. Spurs have won only once in 41 away matches against Chelsea.
De Zerbi, however, believes difficult records can provide an extra edge rather than become a burden. He recalled his time at Foggia, when his side repeatedly struggled to win at Bari before eventually doing so in 2015 despite the lower-division mismatch.
He has also won at Chelsea before, achieving that result with Brighton in 2023.
What happens next
Tottenham will make late checks on Kulusevski, Maddison and Adarabioyo before naming their squad for the London derby. Porro’s availability offers De Zerbi one confirmed defensive lift, but the manager will need to manage the remaining fitness concerns carefully at Stamford Bridge.
- Porro is available after his latest injury absence.
- Kulusevski and Maddison remain doubts after disrupted training.
- Udogie is ruled out and Adarabioyo may not be fit in time.
- De Zerbi has cleared Tottenham’s medical staff of blame.
- Spurs are chasing just a second win in 42 visits to Chelsea.
