Tottenham Faces Brentford in Premier League Opener
Tottenham’s season begins with a mix of fresh faces and familiar absences as they cross London to face Brentford in their Premier League opener.
New era, but key men missing
Several Spurs players are in line for debuts, yet Roberto De Zerbi will go into his first league game in charge without some of his most important figures.
New captain Micky van de Ven has not played a single minute of pre-season after returning late from World Cup duty. De Zerbi confirmed on Friday that the defender will not even make the squad for the trip, delaying the official start of his captaincy.
Vice-captain Pedro Porro is also out of contention. The right-back will play no part, leaving Spurs without both of their newly appointed leaders on the pitch.
The problems do not stop there. Pape Matar Sarr has suffered a hamstring injury. The issue is not considered serious, but it is enough to rule the midfielder out this weekend and force an early reshuffle in the centre of the park.
Glimpses of good news
Amid the setbacks, there was at least a lift at the training ground.
Destiny Udogie, James Maddison, Dominic Solanke and Mateus Fernandes all trained ahead of the short journey to Brentford. De Zerbi said they would be “inside”, a clear hint that all four are expected to be involved in the matchday squad.
The spotlight naturally falls on Fernandes. Signed from West Ham for £85m, the forward has been battling a calf problem since joining up with Spurs on their pre-season tour of New Zealand and Australia. The issue has slowed his integration and, crucially, he does not start today.
Caution after last season’s scars
De Zerbi has taken a firm stance with injuries since walking through the door. He has chosen to err on the side of caution with any fitness doubts, determined not to relive the injury crisis that wrecked Spurs’ campaign last season.
So Tottenham open the season with excitement around their new signings, but without their captain, vice-captain and a key midfielder on the pitch.
The message is clear: Spurs want a fast start, but not at the cost of another year ruined by breakdowns.
