Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi has explained why the returning World Cup players have yet to feature in pre‑season this summer, while also outlining where his squad currently stands in terms of fitness.
One of the five things learned from the clash between Tottenham Hotspur and Sydney is that many Tottenham players are still not ready to be involved in pre-season.
That has led Roberto De Zerbi to rely heavily on academy players across the three friendly games Tottenham have played so far.
Fans of the Lilywhites are still yet to see James Maddison, Destiny Udogie, Micky van de Ven, Kevin Danso, Jan Paul van Hecke and Dominic Solanke kick a ball on the pre-season tour despite all of them being part of De Zerbi’s 35-man squad for New Zealand and Australia.
Roberto De Zerbi explains why key Tottenham players have not featured yet
Head coach Roberto De Zerbi has now offered an insight into why those players have not yet featured in pre-season games.
Speaking to football.london, the Italian explained the reasoning behind the club’s cautious approach, revealing why he is unwilling to take unnecessary risks with several key players.
However, he did offer some positive news, hinting that some of them could be involved against Chelsea when Spurs conclude their tour of Australia later this week.
He said: “Danso, Van de Ven, Solanke, JP van Hecke, I thought today they were not yet ready to play without risk. Maybe some of them can play the next game Saturday with Chelsea, maybe not at the beginning.
“Maybe in the beginning Robertson and Sandro Tonali, but it’s the management of the players, especially after World Cup or after big injuries like Udogie or Solanke. They suffered long injuries last season, and after a long trip, after the jet lag, after the beginning of the pre-season, I wouldn’t like to take any risk.”
De Zerbi reveals where Spurs’ squad fitness currently stands
With the Premier League now less than a month away from kicking off, getting his side fit and ready is absolutely crucial if Spurs are to make a strong start to the campaign.
Pre-season remains the perfect opportunity to build that fitness, and De Zerbi has now revealed where his squad currently stands in terms of its physical condition.
Speaking to football.london, he said: “No, no, the physical condition is not the same for every player, some players are ready to play 70 minutes, 80 minutes, maybe Archie Gray…
“I don’t know, Ben Davies, Mateus Fernandes, even today he didn’t play and some are going in the right direction, Tonali, Gallagher. Gallagher is another player who is able to play 80 minutes.
“Like Mathys Tel, like Richarlison, Manor Solomon and other players. They are working to increase their condition, but I think all teams, also Chelsea, also Liverpool or other teams with a lot of players who played in the World Cup, I think they are spending the same time.”