Tottenham Hotspur’s squad have been diligently getting ready for their upcoming encounter with Brentford this weekend.
Manager Roberto De Zerbi has been putting the Tottenham players through rigorous sessions as the new Premier League campaign kicks off. On Saturday night, the north London club will be aiming for a positive beginning when they travel to the Gtech Community Stadium to take on their London rivals.
Earlier this month, the Spurs manager outlined his strategy for restoring his team’s belief following two consecutive seasons narrowly avoiding the drop. During an appearance on the Men in Blazers YouTube channel, De Zerbi discussed his approach to rebuilding confidence.
The Italian coach emphasised that he typically considers the emotional and mental aspects of the squad, including their spirit, passion and mindset, before focusing on future improvements. He expressed a desire for the team to display their true character and worth when competing in the Premier League, suggesting that individual talent alone is insufficient. According to De Zerbi, without bringing something personal and heartfelt to the game, it becomes extremely challenging to challenge the world’s elite clubs.
The 47-year-old has been striving to ensure his players are fully prepared and determined not to disappoint the fanbase as the new season approaches. With that context, the publication examined four notable aspects from this week’s training sessions at the club’s training complex.
De Zerbi welcomes back Udogie
The Italian head coach greeted Destiny Udogie as the defender rejoined his teammates at the training ground this week. The 23-year-old full-back, who struggled with multiple muscle problems throughout the previous campaign, will undergo careful management from De Zerbi as he looks to strengthen the defensive options.
Towards the conclusion of last term, Udogie featured in six of the seven available Premier League matches under De Zerbi’s leadership, only sitting out the narrow victory against Wolves at Molineux due to a minor injury. Shortly after helping the club avoid relegation from the top flight, he returned to recovery, missing all pre-season preparations.
Van de Ven still missing
Micky van de Ven was absent from this week’s training sessions, raising further concerns about his readiness for the season opener. The 25-year-old centre-back did not participate in any of Tottenham’s pre-season fixtures, meaning it could be some time before he receives consideration for matchday duties, which presents a significant issue for the squad.
Dominic Solanke was also not visible in the training images, though he did feature sparingly over the summer months, completing the first half of the matches against MK Dons and Chelsea. Meanwhile, Mateus Fernandes and James Maddison were present and participating on the pitch.
De Zerbi determines Bergvall’s position
The new manager appears to have settled on deploying Bergvall in a central midfield role. Whether protecting the backline in a two-man defensive midfielder partnership or pushing forward to support the main striker, the 20-year-old Swedish international has been used in various positions across the middle of the pitch since joining Tottenham.
During the previous manager’s tenure, which ended disappointingly, Bergvall was occasionally utilised out wide. However, under the fresh leadership, the Swedish midfielder appears destined for a box-to-box role.
During a specific drill at the training facility, Bergvall was observed wearing an orange training bib displaying the number eight, Ben Davies with the number five, and Conor Gallagher seemingly assigned the number 10. While these positions will not be fixed, they provide an indication of how De Zerbi has been shaping his squad.
Cheerful Richy appears in good mood
For a player with less than a year remaining on his contract and an unclear path ahead, Richarlison appeared to be in high spirits. Sources indicate Tottenham hold the option to extend his contract for an additional twelve months, yet even De Zerbi remains uncertain about where the forward may be playing his football this campaign.
When questioned about the forward’s situation during the Australian tour, De Zerbi acknowledged his fondness for Richarlison both as a player and as a person, praising his exceptional attitude and conduct. The manager stated that ultimately, the club must respect the player’s own wishes, noting that the situation requires further discussion but presents no fundamental issues.
Regarding the Brazilian’s character and value, De Zerbi maintained that Richarlison remains crucial to his plans, emphasising the rarity of finding another striker with his qualities. The manager highlighted his twelve goals from the previous season as evidence of his proven ability to find the net, attributing this success to his understanding of positioning rather than fortune. De Zerbi expressed the squad’s appreciation for Richarlison, noting the unanimous affection from teammates, the club and the coaching staff due to his daily dedication and hard work.