Beyond the excuses about injuries and managerial turmoil, Tottenham have laboured for much of this season without a serious goal threat from their stable of expensive strikers. Now, after finally ending a miserable run of 15 Premier League games without a win, they have lost first-choice centre forward Dominic Solanke and creator-in-chief Xavi Simons to injuries.
De Zerbi's Challenge
Roberto De Zerbi has made it clear he does not want to see anyone bemoaning luck or wallowing in self-pity. Instead, he has hailed the quality of those expected to step into the breach at Aston Villa on Sunday, but he will realise it is critical to find the right formula immediately.
Richarlison, Spurs' top scorer with nine in the Premier League, led Everton out of the relegation mire in 2022 with a flurry of goals, including a winner against Chelsea at Goodison Park in May after which he celebrated by picking up and throwing a smoking flare. It became the defining image of a cult hero among Evertonians who expected him to be at the vanguard of the Spurs relegation scrap, but the Brazil centre forward has misfired—and missed six weeks with a hamstring injury picked up in the FA Cup tie against Villa—since starting the season with two goals against Burnley on the opening day.
"Richarlison is a great guy because he is sensitive," said De Zerbi. "I like him as a player and as a man. You can understand what he is thinking from his face, from his eyes, it is pure."
Richarlison's Role
In his first game as Spurs boss, De Zerbi started with Richarlison wide on the left against Sunderland but took him off after an hour, then left him on the bench, an unused substitute in the next game against Brighton. At Wolverhampton Wanderers, Richarlison came on to replace injured Solanke just before half time and claimed an assist when his mis-hit shot was turned in by Joao Palhinha in the 82nd minute. The goal secured three points for the first time since December, and yet De Zerbi was disappointed with the performance of his team in the second half.
"Two different games if you compare the statistics," said the 46-year-old Italian. "In the first half, we had total control of the game, 70 per cent ball possession. OK, two chances to score, not too many. In the second half we lost more possession, we lost distances, we lost the balance of the game. We conceded four chances to score. We won the game, but in the second half we could lose the game."
Solanke's Importance
This offers an insight into the reason De Zerbi trusted Solanke to lead the line despite only three Premier League goals in a campaign disrupted by injuries, rather than Richarlison, Randal Kolo Muani, or Mathys Tel, who have all played at centre forward at times. Standards have been disappointing across the board, but Solanke, who injured a hamstring at Wolves and is not expected to play for Spurs again this season, has proved more adept with his back to goal, knitting others into the play and carrying the team up the pitch.
De Zerbi must now find alternatives. "We have to put him in the right condition to score," he said of Richarlison, before extending his point to others. Tel has just three Premier League goals in 27 appearances this season, albeit still a better ratio than Kolo Muani—who has one in 26.
Young Talents
"He is a potential big player, a potential big talent," said De Zerbi of Tel, who he wanted to sign while at Marseille but has yet to select to start for Spurs. "We have to help him become a top player because he has the right qualities to do that. I am sorry because I have not used him in his favourite position. He played twice on the right wing, against Wolves and Brighton, and his favourite position is left winger, but at Wolves he was important to win the corner for the goal."
De Zerbi has been trying to cajole Kolo Muani and restore his confidence with video clips of the goals he scored before moving to London from Paris Saint-Germain on loan, and mealtime pep talks at the training ground. He also hoped 21-year-old Tel might respond positively to extra responsibility with others absent. "Maybe he can feel more comfortable because he can prepare his game for one week without the thoughts of whether he plays or not," said the Spurs boss.
Tel, who has not scored since January, claimed his first Spurs goal at Villa Park in the FA Cup last season after signing on loan from Bayern Munich. "It can be the right moment for him," added De Zerbi. "The players become great when they understand the right moment to become better. Xavi in my time here was becoming great. I could feel something different from him in personality and confidence, in performances as well. I don't know if the credit is mine, but maybe he understood the right position, had the right confidence and the ideas of the coach, so he made the most of the opportunity."
With Simons out long term with damaged cruciate ligaments, the opportunity now belongs to others. Will anyone claim it?
