De Zerbi Confirms Kudus Ready to Start as Maddison Waits

The dressing room hums with the specific tension of a midweek fixture. Roberto De Zerbi stands before the press, his voice cutting through the ambient noise to settle the question that has lingered over Tottenham’s squad: who is ready to run, and who must still rebuild their engine. The air in the room feels thick with anticipation, a physical weight that presses against the shoulders of the players waiting in the shadows.

For Mohammed Kudus, the answer is a definitive yes. The Ghanaian international has shed the heavy fog of his recent quad injury, a setback that kept him on the sidelines for over eight months after a clash with Sunderland. He is no longer a spectator to his own career. De Zerbi has confirmed that Kudus is physically robust enough to begin the match against Liverpool, marking a significant return to the starting lineup after his brief cameo in the loss to Newcastle.

Maddison remains on the bench

James Maddison, however, is not part of that immediate rotation. His season has been a jagged line of setbacks, starting with a serious knee injury against Arsenal in August and continuing with a shoulder problem that limited his appearances. He has barely found his rhythm, managing only a single start against Everton last weekend. De Zerbi is clear in his assessment: the physical toll is too great. Maddison will remain on the bench, his body not yet trusted to withstand the full ninety minutes of high-intensity football.

Solanke builds mental confidence

Dominic Solanke presents a different kind of challenge. Last season was a blur of ankle and muscle injuries that stole twenty-one games from him. This time, the barrier is not just physical but psychological. De Zerbi describes the striker as sensitive, a player who needs to feel a deep sense of trust from his manager. The manager is offering that confidence in spades, believing Solanke can contribute ten or fifteen goals this term. The goal is to manage his physical load while simultaneously fortifying his mental resolve, ensuring he feels empowered to strike without the weight of expectation crushing his natural instinct.

Attackers bring quality to the pitch

De Zerbi views his forward line as a collective engine of quality. Solanke, Savio, and Maddison are all crucial cogs in a machine that is currently being recalibrated. The manager sees no difference in the fundamental sport between scoring for Bournemouth or Tottenham; the stadium changes, the pressure shifts, but the essence of the game remains. As the team prepares for Tuesday’s tie, the focus is on building momentum. The fans will be with them if the team pushes and plays well, turning the noise of the crowd into a driving force rather than a burden.