Roberto De Zerbi has made an interesting admission about James Maddison’s fitness after Tottenham failed to secure their Premier League status at Stamford Bridge.
Spurs fell to a 2-1 loss at Chelsea, which means that the battle for survival between the Lilywhites and West Ham will go into the final game of the season.
Tottenham need a draw against Everton to guarantee safety due to their much superior goal difference, while the Hammers need to beat Leeds and hope Spurs lose.
The loss against a Chelsea side that was winless in the league for over two months seems like a huge missed opportunity for the North Londoners, who may be made to pay this Sunday dearly.
Roberto De Zerbi shares whether James Maddison could start for Tottenham against Everton
Spurs certainly looked much more threatening in the final third once Maddison was introduced on 68 minutes.
Tottenham fans will be desperately hoping to see the attacking midfielder in the starting eleven on Sunday, given that the Lilywhites seem desperately short of quality in attack.
However, De Zerbi has now confessed that the decision is out of his hands and that his medical department has made it clear that the 29-year-old cannot play more than 20 or 25 minutes.
When asked if Tottenham need Maddison to play against Everton, the Italian told Football.London: “Yes, but James Maddison can’t play more than 20 or 25. I have a medical staff behind me, I am not a doctor, I am not physical coach and I have to follow what they say no? But I think we can stay up with James and without James.”
De Zerbi admits Spurs made ‘too many mistakes’ in one area against Chelsea
While Tottenham never lost control against Chelsea, they seemed to lack the cutting edge in the final third, with the front three of Randal Kolo Muani, Richarlison and Mathys Tel not posing enough problems to the Blues backline.
De Zerbi confessed that his side simply made too many mistakes in attack in West London.
When asked if he wants Tottenham to play as they did in the final 20 minutes of Tuesday’s loss, the 46-year-old said: “I think for the first 70 minutes we didn’t play badly. We played well. We played a good game. Yes but in the last third of the pitch we made too many mistakes. In the assist, in the last pass, the cross, in the finishing. I think we can show these values also in the last pass.”