Tottenham Hotspur have won two Premier League games in a row and Roberto De Zerbi will be hoping to extend that run when his side take on Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Spurs beat Coventry City 3-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before securing all three points with a dramatic 2-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last weekend. Spurs, currently 14th in the Premier League, could see a win lift them up to sixth if results go their way.
“I was very pleased with the way we played,” said Matys after scoring his team’s second goal against the Tel Blues. “We showed that even if there is a big team in front of us, we can play, we can keep the ball, we can stay calm on the ball.
“We have a lot of quality in this team. The manager has already told everyone that there is quality. We just needed time to create something together and I think today is a step forward. We have to be humble and move on, but I’m very happy, very, very happy!”
Palace have lost their last two Premier League matches – 5-0 against Brighton and 2-0 against Newcastle – but De Zerbi will be wary of the threat the Eagles pose. The Italian could also get a positive result ahead of the clash, with two players potentially back in the match-day squad.
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Lucas Bergvall did not start after the 1-1 draw with Manchester United, but the Sweden international could return on Saturday. “Lucas Bergvall [is out] Because Manchester had a problem at the beginning of the game,” De Zerbi said before the match against Coventry.
“The first chance we created with Solanke, when he (Bergvall) got the ball back, his knee, he felt pain and finished the game, but the day after Manchester, on Sunday, he came to the training ground to our medical staff. I think two weeks. [out].”
Tosin Adarabioyo featured in the win against Coventry but was not in the matchday squad to face his former club Chelsea. The centre-back started against Frank Lampard’s side and it was a shame after probably one of the best performances on the pitch.
That performance was interrupted by a suspected calf injury, and although De Zerbi tried to deny injury suggestions after the game, the centre-back was left out of the Chelsea squad. Tosin and Bergvall could return against Sarah, which would be a welcome boost for the Lilywhites.
Mykhailo Mudryk is also nearing a return, but the game against the Eagles comes too soon for the Ukrainian, who is recovering from an ankle injury picked up in training last month.
De Zerbi will be hoping James Maddison can play a part against Palace after the midfielder was sent off against Chelsea minutes into the second half. The 29-year-old has been assessed by club doctors this week and the Spurs boss will provide a final update on Friday.
Elsewhere, Destiny Udogie missed the wins over Coventry and Chelsea with a knee injury and was sidelined. “We are trying to find the best way for him with the medical staff,” De Zerbi said of the left-back. “But I haven’t worked with him since Manchester United and that’s a problem. We’re lucky because we have solutions in the same position.”
Savio is another player who will not be fit in time to face Crystal Palace. The summer arrival “felt a muscle problem” ahead of the squad’s trip to Marbella and may not return after the November international break. Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert are still recovering from anterior cruciate ligament operations and Rodrigo Bentancur is suspended following his red card against Manchester United.
Top Tottenham players to miss Crystal Palace clash: Xavi Simons (knee), Odobert (knee), Udogi (knee), Bentancourt (hamstring), Mudric (ankle), Savio (muscle problem), Maddison (groin – doubt).