De Zerbi insists Tottenham ‘can play much better’ after loss to Sunderland
Tottenham Hotspurs Football Newsletter
Roberto De Zerbi will continue to be without first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario as Tottenham host Brighton in a must-win game in their fight for Premier League survival on Saturday.
Vicario missed last weekend’s 1-0 defeat to Sunderland, having undergone hernia surgery over the international break.
It had been hoped that the Italian shot-stopper would return to fitness this week, but he was absent from training on Thursday, with De Zerbi confirming he would not be available for the visit of Brighton.
"Vicario, no (he is not fit). Vicario is another top guy. I'm looking forward to work with him. Anyway, Kinsky played very well in Sunderland,” De Zerbi said in his pre-match press conference on Friday.
“But Vicario is another important player for us. Big experience, big character, personality. And we are waiting for him.”
Vicario joins a long list of absentees that includes captain Cristian Romero and winger Mohammed Kudus.
Romero is out until the end of the season with a knee injury sustained against Sunderland, while Kudus suffered a setback in his recovery from a serious quad injury last week.
Out for the season: Cristian Romero
Without Romero, De Zerbi will have to decide who should partner Micky van de Ven at centre-back.
Kevin Danso and Radu Dragusin are both fit and available, but with Danso taking Romero’s place against Sunderland, it is likely that the Austrian will again fill in alongside Van de Ven.
“We have Radu Dragusin and Kevin Danso. They are able to play well, to give us quality with the ball and to be strong in defensive space.”
De Zerbi has quickly had to get to grips with Spurs’ spiralling injury list, but he has been boosted by the return of Rodrigo Bentancur from a hamstring injury.
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Bentancur has been out since January after undergoing surgery on his right hamstring, but returned to training this week. De Zerbi stated that the Uruguayan would be in contention to play against Brighton, though he was unsure whether he was fit enough to start.
Bentancur’s return comes at a time when De Zerbi is looking for answers in midfield, after his side were overrun in the middle of the park against Sunderland.
The Spurs boss deployed Conor Gallagher, Archie Gray, and Lucas Bergvall to little effect at the Stadium of Light as Sunderland dominated before taking the lead in the 61st minute through Nordi Mukiele’s deflected strike.
With De Zerbi’s midfield combination failing to have the desired impact, Bentancur could be thrust straight back into the starting lineup, while calls for Xavi Simons to start have only grown this week.
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - JANUARY 07: Rodrigo Bentancur of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur at Vitality Stadium on January 07, 2026 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
There are also decisions to be made on the wing, with Randal Kolo Muani and Richarlison both struggling against Sunderland.
Mathys Tel is the only fit, natural winger in Spurs’ squad at the moment, and it was widely seen as an oversight by De Zerbi not to start him ahead of Richarlison last weekend.
Spurs are in must-win territory now, with just six games to go and two points separating them from 17th-place West Ham.
They face an in-form Brighton side looking for their first league win of the calendar year as they look to move out of the relegation zone.
Predicted Tottenham XI (4-2-3-1): Kinsky; Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Udogie; Gray, Bissouma, Gallagher; Kolo Muani, Tel; Solanke
Injured: Maddison, Davies, Kulusevski, Odobert, Kudus, Vicario, Romero
Time and date: 5.30pm BST on Saturday, April 18, 2026
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
How to watch: Sky Sports