Roberto De Zerbi hints at major rotation against Liverpool as Tottenham battle early-season fitness issues.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has shed light on the physical conditioning challenges hindering his squad’s early-season rhythm, while hinting at significant team rotation for Tuesday’s clash against Liverpool.
Speaking after Tottenham’s goalless Premier League draw with Everton, De Zerbi detailed how a combination of summer international commitments, late transfer arrivals, and pre-season injury setbacks in Australia have left the team operating below peak physical sharpness. As reported by Chris Cowlin on X, the Italian tactician acknowledged that building match fitness during a busy competitive schedule remains a gradual process.
“I don’t know. Now we play Tuesday in Liverpool and we play with all other players, but it will be a very important game for us. We can improve playing in the games, we can improve during the week. I think Rodrigo Bentancur, he came late after the World Cup and he’s crucial for us. I didn’t want to change him today, but I thought maybe he finished his energy in that moment of the game. Sandro Tonali, for example, played better in the second half. Robertson, JP van Hecke, they stayed directly for the first period of the pre-season. Micky van de Ven suffered an injury in Australia. Domi Solanke, the same. Maddison, the same. Savio and Marmoush, they came 10 days ago. Mateus Fernandes suffered an injury in Australia. He lost 15 days and it’s not so quick.”
Pre-Season Disruptions Impact Tactical Consistency and Player Sharpness
De Zerbi’s comments provide crucial context for Tottenham’s persistent final-third struggles and historical four-match Premier League goal drought. Key figures including captain Micky van de Ven, Dominic Solanke, James Maddison, and Mateus Fernandes all suffered injury disruptions during the club’s pre-season tour in Australia. Fernandes lost fifteen crucial days of conditioning, hindering his integration into De Zerbi’s demanding tactical system. Furthermore, late summer additions Savio and Omar Marmoush arrived in North London just ten days prior, limiting their familiarity with team patterns.
By contrast, only a handful of first-team regulars, such as Andy Robertson and Jan Paul van Hecke, completed the full opening block of pre-season preparation. Midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur also faced a delayed return following international duties at the World Cup, leading to his mid-second-half substitution against Everton when his energy reserves dipped. While Sandro Tonali showed encouraging growth during the second period, De Zerbi emphasized that physical condition and sharpness can only be rebuilt through continuous match minutes.
Roberto De Zerbi on how far away are Tottenham from being at their best, physically and team selection for the Liverpool game…
"I don't know. Now we play Tuesday in Liverpool and we play with all other players, but it will be a very important game for us. We can improve… pic.twitter.com/VYdMgxuULQ
— Chris Cowlin (@ChrisCowlin) September 13, 2026
With Tottenham preparing to travel to Anfield to face Liverpool on Tuesday, De Zerbi indicated that fresh personnel will feature prominently in his team selection. Stating that Spurs will play “with all other players” in Merseyside, the manager appears ready to utilize his broader squad depth to manage the rapid turnaround and protect heavily taxed starters.
The midweek encounter presents both a stern test and an important opportunity for Tottenham to recalibrate their campaign. Facing elite opposition away from home, De Zerbi hopes that injecting fresh physical energy into the lineup will help unblock Spurs’ offensive engine and deliver a positive performance before domestic league play resumes.