Richarlison questions Roberto De Zerbi after the Tottenham boss rules him out of the Carabao Cup clash against Liverpool.
Tottenham Hotspur forward Richarlison has publicly questioned head coach Roberto De Zerbi after the Italian manager explicitly declared that the Brazilian striker will play no part in Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup tie against Liverpool at Anfield.
Speaking ahead of the cup fixture, De Zerbi adopted a firm stance regarding the 29-year-old attacker’s selection status, making it clear that Richarlison would be left out regardless of his physical readiness. In statements reported by transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, De Zerbi emphatically stated:
“Richarlison will NOT play even if he’s available. Not even in the Carabao Cup, no.”
The definitive statement quickly circulated across social media platforms. As highlighted by Last Word On Spurs on X, Richarlison took to social media to directly address the quoted statement, posting a concise response alongside an unamused emoji:
“Why?”
Growing Dressing Room Friction Amid Goal Scarcity
De Zerbi’s absolute exclusion of Richarlison comes at a delicate moment for Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs have struggled for fluid attacking output during their opening stretch of the domestic season, failing to score across four consecutive Premier League matches. While De Zerbi outlined plans to rotate his lineup and afford starting opportunities to younger players such as Lucas Bergvall and Mathys Tel, his outright rejection of Richarlison suggests an underlying disciplinary or tactical rift rather than routine squad management.
Richarlison’s decision to publicly air his confusion adds further fuel to discussions regarding De Zerbi’s management style. The Italian tactician has already faced scrutiny for publicly critiquing young players, including a high-profile pitchside exchange with Mathys Tel following the draw against Everton. Media pundits have pointed out that deflecting blame onto squad members and ruling out senior attackers in public press conferences risks creating friction inside the dressing room.
🚨🚨Richarlison responds to Roberto De Zerbi comments that he won’t play tomorrow night for Tottenham Hotspur against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup despite being available:
“Why? 😓”#THFC| #COYS| #TOTTENHAM | #SPURS pic.twitter.com/Sx9g593qui
— Last Word On Spurs (@LastWordOnSpurs) September 14, 2026
With Tottenham preparing for a demanding midweek cup clash at Anfield before hosting Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday, De Zerbi faces increasing pressure to restore harmony within the squad and deliver positive results on the pitch.