De Zerbi: Tottenham's poor record at Chelsea is great motivation

Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi insists the club's dismal away record against Chelsea should serve as extra motivation rather than a cause for concern ahead of the upcoming London derby.

Spurs have won just once at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League era, suffering ten defeats in their last 12 meetings against the Blues. However, the Italian head coach firmly dismissed the idea that this barren run adds extra pressure, expressing confidence that his side can build on Monday's 3-1 home win over Coventry, which marked Tottenham's first league victory of the season.

Asked whether he sensed any fear among his squad, De Zerbi was emphatic: "No, I don't think so, because so far I've only managed Tottenham in one match against Chelsea. This must serve as another source of motivation for us, not another problem. We weren't involved in those past games, and I wasn't in charge in previous seasons. We already have enough on our plate without worrying about that.

"There are plenty of negative records, but for me, they are just reasons to be even more motivated. I want these statistics to give the players more energy, the right mentality, and the hunger to win, because we have the quality. We are facing a top opponent with an excellent manager, a clear identity, and quality players, but our squad is also at a very high level. However, we must show that as a collective unit, not through individual displays," he added.

Tottenham will be looking to secure their first victory at Chelsea since 2018, though their task is complicated by selection issues. Destiny Udogie has been ruled out, while James Maddison remains a major doubt. The midfielder found the net on his first start in 536 days against Coventry, but subsequently missed three days of training.

Dejan Kulusevski has also been on an individual training programme following his return to action after an 18-month absence. On a positive note, Pedro Porro has recovered from a hamstring issue, while Andy Robertson and Omar Marmoush are fully fit despite being forced off on Monday.

"Maddison didn't train with the group for the first three days, and I don't know if he will be available tomorrow," De Zerbi explained. "As I've said many times, I don't want to take unnecessary risks. At this stage of the season across European football, there are a huge number of injuries, and that applies to every team, not just Tottenham. That's why I try not to gamble with players' fitness so we don't lose them for extended periods.

"Kulusevski is working hard, but he was also training individually at the start of the week. Together with the medical staff, we are looking for the best solution for Udogie as well. He hasn't trained with us since the Manchester United match, which is a problem. Fortunately, we have enough depth in that position, but we have to make the right decision for both him and the entire team," the Italian concluded.