Roberto De Zerbi's Tottenham Era Begins Under Pressure

Roberto De Zerbi’s new Tottenham era starts for real on Saturday evening, and it starts under pressure.

A summer of noise, a summer of money – £237million spent, a squad reshaped, a message sent. Now comes Brentford away at the Gtech Community Stadium, the kind of opening fixture that quickly exposes how much of that ambition is real and how much is still theory.

Big spend, familiar problems

Tottenham have limped to 17th in back-to-back seasons. That is the backdrop to De Zerbi’s first full campaign in charge, a club desperate to drag itself into something more convincing, more modern, more ruthless.

The Italian has been backed. Mateus Fernandes arrived from West Ham for £85m, one of several headline additions. The squad looks deeper, younger, more tailored to his front-foot football.

But the old story has followed them into August: injuries. Again.

Key players are either sidelined or short of fitness, forcing De Zerbi into a delicate balancing act before a ball has been kicked in the Premier League.

Van de Ven mystery, Udogie and Maddison managed

At the back, there is a quiet concern over Micky van de Ven. Fresh from signing a new contract, the Dutch defender did not feature at all in pre-season after returning late from the World Cup. He was not seen in training on Tuesday and the club have not clarified the issue. For a side that has leaned heavily on his pace and recovery defending, his situation is a major question mark.

There was at least a glimpse of relief on the training pitches this week. Destiny Udogie, James Maddison and Fernandes all took part ahead of the short trip across London.

Udogie, though, remains touch and go. Persistent muscular problems have forced De Zerbi to ration his minutes and he did not play in pre-season. Throwing him straight into a high-intensity opener would be a risk.

Maddison is being handled just as carefully. The England midfielder, in the frame to become club captain after Cristian Romero’s departure, is still working back from the anterior cruciate ligament injury that ended his last campaign. He has been involved in training but is not yet guaranteed to start, or even to feature, against Brentford.

Solanke, Kudus and a frontline in flux

Up front, there is more uncertainty. Dominic Solanke, who missed most of last season with ankle and then hamstring problems, has been used sparingly in pre-season. At 28, and with that recent injury history, he is another doubt for Saturday.

Mohammed Kudus is even further away. The winger has returned to training but has not played a competitive minute since January because of a serious quad injury. De Zerbi, scarred by last season’s fitness crisis, has shown little appetite for gambling on half-ready players. Kudus is highly unlikely to be thrown in.

That could open the door for Mikey Moore on the right wing. The academy product is expected to leave on loan, but only once Spurs secure their own attacking targets. Their pursuit of Savinho has dragged on all summer, talks with Manchester City still without a breakthrough. Until that changes, Moore sits in limbo – and may find himself starting a Premier League opener instead of learning his trade elsewhere.

Fernandes race, Porro short, long-term absentees

Fernandes himself has had a stuttering start to life at Spurs. A calf issue picked up on the pre-season tour of New Zealand and Australia has disrupted his rhythm, though there is hope he will be available for selection at Brentford. Again, caution is the word inside the camp.

On the right of defence, Pedro Porro is back in training but short of sharpness after his extended break. He is not injured, just behind the rest in terms of match fitness, which may influence De Zerbi’s thinking for the first weekend.

Xavi Simons, Wilson Odobert and Dejan Kulusevski are out for the long term, removing more creativity and attacking depth from the manager’s options.

How Spurs could line up

Despite the doubts, a likely shape is emerging. Tottenham’s predicted XI for the opener is:

Kinsky; Gray, Van Hecke, Senesi, Robertson; Fernandes, Tonali; Moore, Gallagher, Tel; Richarlison.

It is a side that blends new signings with familiar names, youth with experience, and carries enough firepower to trouble Brentford if the pieces click quickly.

The stage is set: 5.30pm BST, Saturday, August 22, 2026, live on Sky Sports, at a stadium where visitors are rarely allowed an easy evening.

Tottenham have spent big, talked big and promised a reset. Now De Zerbi has to deliver it with a patched-up squad and little margin for error.