Tottenham Faces Challenges as Injuries Hit Key Players

Roberto De Zerbi has to find solutions to replace the injured duo Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke in Tottenham’s first XI.

After finally ending a miserable run of 15 Premier League games without a win, Tottenham Hotspur have been hit with injuries to key players Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke.

Xavi Simons will spend several months on the sidelines following a torn ACL, while Dominic Solanke has sustained a muscle injury and faces a race against time to return before the season ends. This comes after Cristian Romero and Mohammed Kudus were ruled out of the rest of the campaign in April.

Roberto De Zerbi has made it clear he does not want to see anyone bemoaning luck or injuries in this intense relegation battle. Instead, he has urged his players to put everything on the pitch to win all four games and clinch top-flight safety. West Ham losing to Brentford on Saturday should give them a psychological lift, but it’s now all on Spurs to go to Villa Park and beat Aston Villa.

The Tottenham gaffer has to find solutions to cope with the injury losses of Simons and Solanke. The 46-year-old in his press conference hinted towards starting a front three of Randal Kolo Muani, Mathys Tel and Richarlison against Aston Villa.

Mathys Tel set to start against Aston Villa?

Mathys Tel is expected to get chances to impress following Simons’ serious knee injury. The Sarcelles-born talent has had a stop-start campaign, making 34 appearances in all competitions thus far. He is yet to start a game for Tottenham under De Zerbi, coming off the bench on all three occasions.

The 21-year-old came on as a second-half substitute for compatriot Randal Kolo Muani against Wolves and helped his team register their first league win of 2026. De Zerbi has always insisted that while Tel has not started a game since he replaced Igor Tudor at the helm during the March international break, he believes in the Frenchman’s talent and potential.

“He is a potential big player, a potential big talent at the moment, and we have to help him become a top player because he has the right qualities to do that,” De Zerbi said in his press conference (h/t Football London).

“I’m sorry because I used him in not his favourite position, because he played two games as a right winger, against Wolves and Brighton. His favourite position is left winger, but for example, at Wolves, he was important to win the corner for the goal.

“Now maybe without Xavi and Maddison and Odobert and all the other players, he can feel more comfortable because he can prepare his game for one week without the thoughts of whether he plays or not. The responsibilities can be better for us and for him.”