Roberto De Zerbi explains Mykhailo Mudryk’s non-contact ankle injury and admits Spurs knew of his fitness concerns.
Tottenham Hotspur head coach Roberto De Zerbi has offered a comprehensive explanation regarding the physical setback suffered by summer signing Mykhailo Mudryk. Addressing media personnel ahead of Saturday’s Premier League fixture against Everton, the Italian manager revealed that the Ukrainian winger sustained an ankle injury without engaging in physical contact or making a tackle during training.
Reporting via Last Word On Spurs on X, De Zerbi detailed how the issue developed quietly during routine sessions before medical checks confirmed the underlying damage two days later.
“Playing without a tackle, without different movement and he felt pain in the ankle and then after two days, he made the medical check.”
The delayed presentation of symptoms required immediate intervention from Tottenham’s sports medicine staff, ruling the wide forward out of contention for upcoming domestic matches.
Addressing the broader circumstances surrounding the transfer, De Zerbi expressed frustration with the timing of the injury while reiterating that Tottenham’s recruitment and medical departments were fully aware of the physical variables associated with the player’s profile. He emphasized that while the nature of the setback is frustrating, the club remains strategic in its approach to player recovery.
“We knew the problem, but after a long time, we knew eh. A stupid injury but we are not stupid.”
De Zerbi highlighted that integrating Mudryk into Tottenham’s high-intensity tactical system was always expected to require patience, given the player’s historical workload and physical periodization requirements.
“When we signed Mudryk, we already knew it could be difficult to come back straight away as a normal player.”
Mounting Selection Challenges Across Tottenham’s Forward Line
Mudryk’s temporary absence creates immediate selection complications for De Zerbi as Spurs prepare to host Everton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Ukrainian’s injury coincides with another wide setback, as Swedish winger Dejan Kulusevski has also been unable to train with the first-team squad over the past week due to a minor physical issue.
With Tottenham currently seeking to break a 270-minute goal drought in Premier League play, the coaching staff must rely heavily on Mathys Tel, Sávio, and Omar Marmoush to generate width and penetration. Although James Maddison’s return to first-team training and Lucas Bergvall’s recent contract extension offer encouragement in central areas, Mudryk’s non-contact injury restricts De Zerbi’s dynamic options on the flank during a pivotal period of the early season.
