Spurs Manager De Zerbi rules Solanke out of Villa trip
spurs manager Roberto De Zerbi ruled Dominic Solanke out of Sunday’s trip to Aston Villa, leaving Tottenham without their striker for a match that now sits inside a wider relegation fight. De Zerbi also said he was unsure whether Solanke would feature again this season after the forward suffered a hamstring problem against Wolves.
Solanke misses Villa Park
Solanke’s absence is the cleanest change in Tottenham’s team news. He was injured in last Saturday’s 1-0 win at Wolves, a result that ended a run of 16 Premier League matches without victory, and De Zerbi has already ruled him out of the next league test.
The manager did not give a firm return date. When asked whether Solanke could play again this season, he said: “For Villa, no, for sure. And then we will see.” That leaves Tottenham planning for Sunday without one of the players they need most in attack.
Injuries thin Tottenham's options
Solanke is only part of a longer list. Xavi Simons suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament against Wolves, Guglielmo Vicario was still out, and James Maddison did not sound likely to play at Aston Villa. Maddison would again be among the substitutes for his leadership qualities, while Destiny Udogie and Pape Sarr should return to the squad.
Ben Davies, Cristian Romero, Dejan Kulusevski, Mohammed Kudus and Wilson Odobert were also on the injured list. That takes Tottenham to at least eight other absences around Solanke and keeps the manager working with a narrowed group for Sunday’s away match.
De Zerbi and the relegation fight
De Zerbi’s comments went beyond the team sheet. He said, “The most important challenge now is to silence the voice inside of us, inside the players, the staff and the fans,” and added, “The losers cry.” He also said, “If Tottenham win in Villa Park, it is not a miracle.”
Tottenham’s trip to Villa Park now carries the weight of those words. With Solanke out and several others unavailable, the manager’s immediate task is to piece together a side that can carry last weekend’s 1-0 result into another away game without turning that injury list into an excuse.
