The arrival of Roberto De Zerbi at Tottenham Hotspur was supposed to be a moment of pure celebration and tactical renewal, but the reality of the situation in North London has quickly become much more complicated.
As the Italian manager prepares for his very first match in charge against Sunderland this Sunday, he is facing a squad list that looks more like a medical report than a football team. The headline news is particularly grim: Mohammed Kudus, the club’s most explosive attacking threat, has suffered a significant injury setback that might not only end his season but also put his participation in the upcoming World Cup in doubt. With surgery now a very real possibility for the Ghanaian star, De Zerbi has to go back to the drawing board to figure out how to squeeze a victory out of a depleted group of players.
Preparing for a Premier League battle is hard enough when you are in a relegation scrap, but doing it with at least nine senior players unavailable is a monumental challenge. Kudus had been working hard to return to the right wing, but this latest blow has effectively removed him from the equation. All eyes will now be on the manager’s upcoming press conference to see if he can offer any shred of hope, but the mood around the training ground suggests that Spurs will have to find a way to win without their “wing-wizard” for the foreseeable future. Despite these massive hurdles, the game must go on, and we have taken a look at how Tottenham might line up as they look to secure a vital three points at the Stadium of Light.
In goal, the choice seems fairly straightforward due to necessity. Guglielmo Vicario is still on the road to recovery following his hernia surgery, and while he is making progress, this weekend’s trip north comes a bit too soon for the Italian shot-stopper. This means Antonin Kinsky is almost certain to retain his place between the posts. For Kinsky, this is a massive opportunity to impress a new boss who famously demands a lot from his goalkeepers in terms of distribution and composure.
Moving to the defense, we expect De Zerbi to move away from the three-at-the-back systems often favored by previous leadership and return to a more traditional four-man defensive line. This change should see Pedro Porro return to a more familiar right-back role. While Porro has spent time as a winger and a wing-back lately, his ability to overlap and provide quality crosses from deep will be a cornerstone of De Zerbi’s attacking plan. On the opposite side, Destiny Udogie is expected to start at left-back. Although Djed Spence is an option, Udogie’s natural left-footedness and his incredible engine make him the ideal candidate to provide the balance and creativity that De Zerbi loves from his full-backs.
In the heart of the defense, the partnership of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven remains the strongest part of the team. Romero is coming off a strong international break with Argentina and will need to bring that world-class leadership to the pitch on Sunday. If he can stay disciplined and organize the line, and if Van de Ven can use his recovery pace to shut down Sunderland’s counter-attacks, Spurs will have a solid foundation to build upon.
The midfield pivot is where things get really interesting. Archie Gray has been one of the few consistent bright spots for Tottenham recently, and his place in the starting eleven is virtually guaranteed. Partnering him will likely be the young Swede, Lucas Bergvall. Having declared himself fit during his time away with the national team, Bergvall brings a level of energy and technical grit that will be essential in winning the battle in the center of the park. This young, hungry duo represents the future of the club, but on Sunday, they will need to play with the maturity of veterans.
Further forward, the creative burden will fall heavily on Xavi Simons. The Dutchman is arguably the most versatile and gifted playmaker available to De Zerbi right now. Whether he starts in the “number ten” role or drifts out to the flanks, his ability to find a killer pass or create space for others will be the key to breaking down a stubborn Sunderland defense. Supporting the attack from the wings, we expect to see Mathys Tel on the right. Despite a minor knock in his last outing, Tel has returned to training and offers the kind of directness and goal threat that the team is missing in the absence of Kudus.
On the left wing, De Zerbi may turn to the experience of Richarlison. While he can play as a striker, the Brazilian’s work rate and physicality on the flank could help pin back Sunderland’s defenders. This setup allows for a lot of fluidity, with Simons, Tel, and Richarlison capable of switching positions throughout the match to keep the opposition guessing. At the very top of the formation, Dominic Solanke will be tasked with the most important job of all: putting the ball in the back of the net. In a De Zerbi team, chances are usually created in abundance, and Solanke must be sharp and clinical if he wants to lead the club to safety.
It is a patchwork team in some ways, missing some of its biggest stars and dealing with the psychological weight of a relegation fight. However, there is still plenty of individual talent on the pitch. De Zerbi’s first match is a massive test of his ability to organize a squad under pressure. If this predicted XI can find their chemistry quickly, they might just be able to turn the tide of this difficult season and start the new era with a much-needed win.
For the fans, the hope is that even without Kudus, the collective spirit of the team will be enough to shine through.
