Tottenham Faces Chelsea Injury Crisis at Stamford Bridge
I am convinced our medical staff this season is high level,
head coach Roberto De Zerbi said ahead of Saturday’s clash, defending his staff as Tottenham prepares to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Tottenham attempts to win at the ground for only the second time in 42 matches in all competitions, heading into the fixture with up to nine players potentially sidelined by injury and suspension.
De Zerbi defended his medical team against external criticism regarding the club’s heavy selection issues. The manager pointed to specific player histories, noting that Pedro Porro suffered an injury and later pushed to return too early against Aston Villa. Similarly, Lucas Bergvall turned his knee in the opening minute against Manchester United on October 10, yet insisted on finishing the match, while Andy Robertson accumulated heavy fatigue after playing four consecutive matches for Scotland during the international window and 65 minutes against Coventry.
The squad’s physical strain leaves several key figures doubtful or unavailable. Destiny Udogie remains out, Tosin Adarabioyo is a doubt, and James Maddison missed three days of training following the home victory over Coventry on Monday. Dejan Kulusevski will be handled with caution after making his first appearance since May 2025 in the previous fixture. Lucas Bergvall and Savio remain longer-term absentees, and Rodrigo Bentancur is suspended.
Chelsea Instills Emotional Control Under Xabi Alonso
Chelsea enters the weekend fixture boasting a vastly improved disciplinary record, having collected zero red cards this season under manager Xabi Alonso. Last year, the club accumulated 11 red cards, prompting Alonso to prioritize emotional composure and game management upon taking charge last summer.
If you are focused on what you have to do, you are prepared for what’s going on,
Alonso said. Normally you don’t make that many mistakes and don’t overreact to certain situations.
Alonso attributes the shift to signing more experienced players who inject necessary calmness during volatile moments. Chelsea faces Tottenham without goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, who broke his jaw against Everton.
Premier League Clubs Face High Levy for Independent Regulator
The highest-earning Premier League clubs face bills of up to £1.8m next summer to fund the Independent Football Regulator (IFR), according to consultation proposals released for the licensing regime. The IFR projects total funding costs of £20.3m for the 116 clubs across the top five divisions of English football in its inaugural 2027-28 season, rising to £20.9m in 2028-29. These figures double initial government estimates.
Premier League clubs are expected to shoulder approximately 85% of the total annual cost, with individual payments scaled to club revenues. While top earners face £1.8m in the first year, most Premier League teams will contribute £600,000. Setup costs for the regulator reached £45m, with £42m of that total scheduled for recovery over the subsequent eight years. IFR chair David Kogan confirmed that clubs will ultimately fund any legal expenses resulting from the regulator’s actions, including potential litigation surrounding Manchester City’s ongoing Premier League disciplinary case.