Tottenham’s Right-Back Crisis Deepens as De Zerbi Awaits First League Win

Tottenham Hotspur will return from the FIFA international window still in the Premier League’s bottom three after a 3-2 home defeat to Aston Villa at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The result leaves Roberto De Zerbi’s team without a league victory and increases the early-season pressure on the manager.

Pedro Porro’s availability for Tottenham’s next match is uncertain pending medical evaluation. The Spain international was forced off shortly after the 15-minute mark on Saturday with a hamstring strain, prompting early tactical adjustments and leaving Spurs short-handed in defense.

The problem on the right side had already been exposed during the summer. Tottenham sanctioned Djed Spence’s transfer to Italian Serie A club Inter Milan, having signed the full-back from Middlesbrough in 2022 after his promotion-winning loan spell at Nottingham Forest. His departure left the club without established depth at right-back and placed a heavy burden on Porro.

The 25-year-old had made only three starts for Spurs this season before the Aston Villa match. He had recently returned from a muscular injury that kept him out of Tottenham’s league draw against Everton and the subsequent Carabao Cup elimination against Liverpool.

Porro had been given extended rest during the summer after Spain’s international campaign in North America. De Zerbi questioned how the defender’s recovery had been managed while discussing the latest injury after the match.

“Listen, Pedro, I said after the World Cup, I said the management of Pedro should be different,” De Zerbi said. “Because after the World Cup, [there are] many games. I don’t know what the problem is. It’s a hamstring, I think. Hopefully, it’s not a big problem.”

Tottenham’s difficult start has come despite offseason transfer spending exceeding £300 million and a squad overhaul. De Zerbi, who arrived in North London after managerial spells at Sassuolo, Shakhtar Donetsk, and Brighton & Hove Albion, is still seeking his first domestic league win with the club.

Spurs have also already been knocked out of the Carabao Cup. Their three-week pause in play will be followed by an October 10 league trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United, with Porro’s condition to be assessed before then.