Roberto De Zerbi has rejected suggestions that Tottenham's crucial 2-1 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday was merely a result of facing a heavily rotated opponent. The win lifted Spurs above West Ham and out of the relegation zone with three games remaining, but much of the post-match discussion centred on Villa manager Unai Emery making seven changes to his starting lineup following their Europa League semi-final first leg against Nottingham Forest.
De Zerbi countered by pointing out that Forest themselves made eight changes for their match against Chelsea on Monday, storming to a 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge. He argued that Villa still fielded a strong side, naming players such as Matty Cash, Victor Lindelöf, Tyrone Mings, Ian Maatsen, Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers, Jadon Sancho, Ross Barkley, and Tammy Abraham. 'It was a great first XI,' he said.
The Spurs manager also highlighted his own team's absentees, including Cristian Romero, Dejan Kulusevski, Mohammed Kudus, Dominic Solanke, Xavi Simons, James Maddison, and others. He urged the focus to remain on his side's performance rather than the opposition's lineup. When asked if the reaction surprised him, De Zerbi replied: 'In Italy we are used to thinking in the bad way about this situation but it is not true.'
De Zerbi provided injury updates, noting that Solanke is unlikely to return for the next match against Leeds but may be fit for the following game against Chelsea. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario remains out, and James Maddison is still not ready to play after a serious knee injury, lacking the rhythm and intensity required for Premier League football.
Looking ahead, De Zerbi expressed a strong desire to keep midfielder João Palhinha, who is on loan from Bayern Munich with a €30m purchase option. 'One hundred per cent,' he said. 'We have to start from this type of person. More than players, we need reliable people, reliable players. Palhinha is one of the best as a player, for sure.'
