De Zerbi rues poor luck as Spurs reign starts with horrible Mohammed Kudus injury

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Roberto De Zerbi has lamented a difficult start to life in north London after losing Mohammed Kudus to a fresh injury setback just days into his tenure, dealing an early blow to his plans to steer the club clear of relegation.

Appointed to revive Spurs’ fortunes with the team languishing in 17th, De Zerbi had quickly identified Kudus as a central figure in his tactical blueprint.

However, the Ghana international suffered a relapse in training on Thursday, compounding a long-term injury that has sidelined him since January.

The timing is particularly damaging for the Italian, who is preparing for his first match in charge against Sunderland. With limited time to implement his philosophy, the absence of a player he viewed as pivotal to linking midfield and attack forces an immediate rethink.

“I didn’t start with the best of luck. Kudus was in my head a crucial player, especially for the position, but we have to look forward anyway,” De Zerbi admitted.

Kudus’ ability to carry the ball and operate across multiple attacking roles had positioned him as the ideal focal point in De Zerbi’s possession-driven system. His loss removes a key transitional outlet at a moment when cohesion and clarity are urgently needed.

There are also broader concerns surrounding the 25-year-old’s fitness, with the latest setback potentially requiring surgery and raising doubts about his availability for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Despite the disruption, De Zerbi struck a pragmatic tone, shifting attention to the players at his disposal as Spurs prepare for a critical run-in. He expressed confidence in the attacking options available, while stressing the need to quickly adapt and maximise their strengths within a revised structure.

“I think we have a lot of very good attackers and we have to help them, to put them in the best condition to show their qualities,” he added.