Tottenham’s De Zerbi Era Struck by Injuries and Relegation Trouble

LONDON — Tottenham Hotspur enters the autumn international break with no Premier League victories and a place in the relegation zone, while the beginning of the Roberto De Zerbi era has been stalled by a tactical and medical crisis.

The club’s shortage of available wide players is especially damaging for an Italian manager whose tactical blueprint depends on dynamic, press-resistant full-backs and explosive wide attackers. De Zerbi uses them to stretch opposing defenses and initiate vertical transitions, but injuries, training-ground setbacks and post-tournament fatigue have severely compromised Tottenham’s flanks.

Dejan Kulusevski remains unavailable after missing the entirety of the 2025–26 campaign with a severe kneecap injury. The Swedish international has recently participated in light training sessions alongside his teammates, although he is still short of match fitness and has not been cleared for competitive play.

Kulusevski’s prolonged recovery resulted in his omission from the Sweden national team squad during the international window. Sweden manager Graham Potter said: “He is taking it step by step. First he has to be involved with Tottenham, and they are the ones who ultimately decide. They see him every day and can best make the decision. When he is not involved there, it is difficult for us to take him out—even if we want to.”

The latest setback to De Zerbi’s framework came against Aston Villa, when right-back Pedro Porro lasted only 15 minutes before breaking down with a suspected hamstring injury. Porro is a vital part of Tottenham’s defensive and offensive transition play, and he is likely to miss the October 10 trip to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Porro’s physical struggles have followed a demanding summer with the Spain squad that claimed the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. The tournament severely limited his pre-season preparation and recovery window, leaving him with only three club starts since returning to Tottenham. Before the Villa fixture, he had missed a draw with Everton and a defeat against Liverpool because of what was initially described as a minor muscular issue.

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

On the opposite side of the pitch, the forward line has been hollowed out by a series of long-term absences. Loan signing Mykhailo Mudryk had only recently joined the first team after a lengthy doping ban, and his appearance against Nottingham Forest was his first competitive match since November 2024.

Mudryk’s comeback ended quickly when he suffered an ankle injury during a training session, an incident De Zerbi reportedly described as “stupid.” He is projected to miss six to eight weeks, delaying a possible return until at least October 31, when Tottenham host Crystal Palace.

Xavi Simons faces a longer absence while recovering from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) suffered against Wolverhampton Wanderers last season. The Dutch attacker, known for his acceleration and quick changes of direction, is undergoing lengthy rehabilitation, and club medical staff have ruled out a return before January 2027.

French winger Wilson Odobert is also recovering from an ACL injury, sustained against Newcastle United in February 2026. His rehabilitation remains on schedule, with medical staff targeting a late autumn return that could come in time for the away fixture against Sunderland on November 28.

Without these key personnel, Tottenham’s attack has looked disjointed and short of creative spark. The international break gives De Zerbi a crucial period to reconfigure his tactical approach, but the Italian manager must find goals and defensive stability from a depleted squad if Tottenham are to climb out of the Premier League’s bottom three.