Roberto De Zerbi says Tottenham Hotspur have prepared individual training programmes for players who remain at Hotspur Way during the upcoming international break, with the head coach determined to improve the squad’s fitness levels.
The plans follow Tottenham’s 3–1 Carabao Cup defeat at Liverpool, which ended the club’s involvement in the competition. Conor Gallagher scored Spurs’ only goal from a set piece, but Liverpool progressed after goals from Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai.
Tottenham host Aston Villa in Saturday’s Premier League early kick-off before the three-week international break. Sam Barrott will referee the fixture, with John Brooks appointed as VAR.
De Zerbi said he will first establish which players remain in north London before finalising the work scheduled during the break.
“We have to understand how many players can stay or not, because also the important players, I think they stay, and we have to organise the rest,” De Zerbi said.
The Italian highlighted Destiny Udogie and James Maddison as examples of players who could benefit from targeted conditioning work if they are not selected for international duty.
“For example, Udogie, we have to see if he goes with Italy or not,” De Zerbi said. “In case they don’t go, especially for players like Udogie or James Maddison, we have to make the right plan to work and stay ready when the Premier League restarts.”
Maddison has returned to training after a lengthy absence but is still building toward full match fitness. De Zerbi said the midfielder’s technical qualities are clear, but his physical condition must reach the level required for regular Premier League action.
De Zerbi said the international break will also be important for Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski, with Kulusevski back in some first-team training after a long injury lay-off. Pedro Porro, Sandro Tonali and Maddison are all available for the Aston Villa match, although their fitness will be assessed before selection.
“We started in the pre-season without a great physical condition,” De Zerbi said. “The players have to understand the intensity of the Premier League, and in Europe it is very high intensity. They can’t lose all their physical condition. They have to work. We have prepared the plan for the individual training because, when the group comes back to us, we have to start immediately.”
With Tottenham still looking for their first Premier League win and goal of the season, De Zerbi hopes the work completed during the break can provide a stronger physical platform for the campaign’s next phase.
