Roberto De Zerbi will finally name Dejan Kulusevski on the bench to face Coventry after 527 days but firmly shut the door on Richarlison as it was one and one at Tottenham.
Kulusevski last started a match on May 11, 2025, when Marc Guehi battled a compound patella injury in his right knee that wiped out his next season and World Cup dreams. The 26-year-old has bounced back after setbacks and De Zerbi was finally able to tell him he would be in the matchday squad to face the Sky Blues on Sunday, prompting a big smile from the Swede.
“It’s been very difficult for him. It’s the worst situation for a player, but injury can be important for a player because you can work on your spirit,” said the Tottenham boss. “When you are injured, you have to talk to yourself, you have to communicate well, you have to be stronger, you have to set goals, you have to go through pain, you have to go through difficult times and you can build a strong character.”
He added: “I’ve been injured many times as a player and at the moment I’m very close with Xavi Simons for example. I follow him step by step in his journey as an injured player. I like it. [James] Maddison, because the Maddison administration is completely different. He is another special player and now he is ready to play.
“Kulu was a very important player, even when he was injured last season. That’s part of it for players, but at the same time it can be a decisive moment to get better, to get stronger.”
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De Zerbi indicated that Maddison remained in the category of impact players from the bench as 29-year-old Kulusevski started the match for the last time before an ACL injury and recent minor setbacks.
“Maybe yes [he can start] You need to play a lot of games to get to the best physical condition, but there are players who can be important even if they play 10-15-20 minutes and James is one such player. Right now he’s ready to start the game, but I don’t know if we’ll start with him. I am waiting for that moment,” he said.
One player who will be unavailable on Monday night is Richarlison. Despite Spurs’ struggles in front of goal, the decision was made to leave the Brazilian out of the Premier League squad last month after he rejected summer moves to declare his intention to leave De Zerbi.
The Italian is understood to have confirmed the hierarchy’s decision and the 29-year-old has been in the news again this week. He played and scored for the under-21s in a Jersey Mike’s Trophy match at Cheltenham Town and later commented on his condition on social media.
Former Everton striker Duncan Ferguson told Overlap Daily: “You don’t leave out a player like that unless there’s been a real crime: he’s been punched in the jaw or there’s been a proper scrap on the training ground.”
Richarlison shared it on Instagram with the caption: “Thanks Duncan Ferguson, you’re right.”
When asked about the striker on Sunday, De Zerbi revealed that he no longer has anything to do with the Brazil international unless he wants to come and talk to him.
“The situation is very clear. Well, I am the coach, I take responsibility and criticism, but I did not make a decision about Richarlison. The decision started from the club. I am the head coach of the club. Richarlison knows everything. If he wants to talk about me, he knows where I am from morning to night. [in my office]”said the 47-year-old.
“It’s not my problem because my problem is scoring goals and winning games with Solanke and Marmoush, not Richarlison anymore. But I’m not hearing anything. There’s nothing else to say about this situation. Anyone can say what they want, but it’s not my problem.”
Richarlison’s exile comes as Spurs academy striker Will Lankshear has also failed to stop scoring for the third-placed Championship side, scoring 11 goals in 14 games since his £20million move to Middlesbrough.
Spurs have just returned from a hot four-night training camp in Marbella, which they spent working on and putting together a new-look squad as they aim to climb down the Premier League table. De Zerbi admitted that he only had one mealtime rule for the Spanish trip.
“We worked on the pitch, we stayed together – we took the phones out of breakfast, lunch and dinner to stay together, because now it’s like (fiddling with an imaginary phone) all the time,” the Italian said. “We had two or three important meetings talking about football – our situation and how everyone has to take responsibility – and nothing else. Some dinners just for the players and some just for the staff.”
On whether the players would be allowed to go out, he added: “Yes, with freedom. Without military regulations. I love freedom.”
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Spurs haven’t had a problem with some of the problems other clubs have had during warm-weather training camps over the years, and De Zerbi believes that’s because everyone is aware of the situation they’re in.
“As a coach, you understand that you have to improve, you have to change the situation and you try to find all the solutions,” he said. “I already had two training camps like this with Marcel and it was a good solution. I spoke with the club, with Vinai, with Yohan, with the owner and we decided together.
“But it’s nothing special, it’s just spending more time together, because we couldn’t do that in the pre-season. We had a lot of new players and players coming back from the World Cup. Three or four days in a place without family, it’s normal and good to put the club first.”