Tottenham Hotspur head coach Roberto De Zerbi has delivered a timely squad boost ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, confirming the returns of several key defenders while addressing lingering fitness concerns. Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, October 23, 2026, Football.London reported that the Italian manager welcomed back Pedro Porro and Andy Robertson, providing crucial options as Spurs look to overcome a historically difficult away fixture.
Tottenham enter the weekend on the back of their first Premier League victory of the campaign—a 3-1 win over Coventry City on Monday night—which followed a resilient 1-1 draw against Manchester United. However, the physical toll of that recent fixture schedule forced late changes and left several players under observation during the week at Hotspur Way.
Defensive Boosts and Fitness Updates
Among the positive developments, Spanish full-back Pedro Porro is back in contention after missing action since September 19, when he picked up an injury during a 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa. De Zerbi explicitly confirmed Porro’s recovery during his Friday briefing, as noted by The False 9.
In addition, left-back Andy Robertson and forward Omar Marmoush have both shaken off injury scares sustained during the victory over Coventry. De Zerbi assured reporters that Robertson is available and Marmoush is in good condition, alongside striker Dominic Solanke. The clean bill of health for these players eases some of the selection pressure on the coaching staff amid a congested European football calendar.
Sidelined Stars and Midfield Doubts
Despite the positive news, Tottenham will be without Italian left-back Destiny Udogie. Udogie suffered a knee problem during the 1-1 draw at Manchester United and missed the Coventry fixture entirely. De Zerbi confirmed that the defender remains unavailable for the trip across London.
Meanwhile, playmaker James Maddison remains a major doubt. Having recently made his first start of the season, Maddison was unable to train for the first three days following the Coventry match. De Zerbi expressed caution regarding his involvement, stating that he does not want to take unnecessary risks with player welfare given the high frequency of modern fixtures. Dejan Kulusevski, who made an emotional return against Coventry after 526 days out, has been managing individual training sessions as his workload is carefully monitored.
Stamford Bridge Challenge
Spurs head to Stamford Bridge facing a notoriously difficult historical record at the venue. Addressing the club’s past struggles in west London, De Zerbi emphasized that negative records serve as extra motivation rather than a psychological hurdle. With defensive reinforcements returning, Tottenham aims to build momentum and secure consecutive league victories.