De Zerbi: Bentancur Available for Brighton as Spurs Fight to Stay Up
Bentancur is back. Romero is out for the season. De Zerbi says Spurs’ survival fight is about mentality as much as ability with six games left.
De Zerbi’s Spurs boosted by Bentancur return but Romero out for season...
Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a boost in their Premier League survival fight with midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur back in the squad for Saturday’s crucial home game against manager Roberto De Zerbi’s former club Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Uruguayan has been sidelined since early January with a serious hamstring injury that needed surgery.
Spurs sit 18th with six games left, two points adrift of safety and at risk of a first top-flight relegation since 1977.
The return of Bentancur and fellow midfielder Yves Bissouma is welcome news for new boss De Zerbi ahead of his first home game in charge, though he confirmed Argentina international Cristian Romero is out for the season.
“Bentancur is available to play,” the Italian told reporters on Friday. “I don’t know if he’ll start the game or not. Bissouma is available.”
Tottenham captain Romero injured his knee in a collision with goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky during the 1-0 defeat at Sunderland last weekend, a result that extended their winless league run to 14 games.
“Romero, I'm really sorry for him and his injury,” De Zerbi said.
“First of all, non-stop, the people have to know he's suffering because of this injury and because he can't play any more for us in this season.
“He's a great captain for us. We have to be positive, we have Radu Dragusin and Kevin Danso, they are very good to play and give us quality with the ball.”
De Zerbi, Spurs’ third manager this season, has little time to turn the London club’s fortunes around and said their survival hopes rest as much on mentality as ability.
De Zerbi focuses on team unity
He tried to lift morale this week by taking the first team out for dinner.
“I have to get to know my players better and better each week,” De Zerbi said. “We have no time to lose. I can bring myself, my philosophy of football, but I'm working to create a good atmosphere, a good relationship with the players.
“I think in this moment for Tottenham the qualities of the players are important, but the spirit and the love the players put into their club are more important.”
Roberto De Zerbi speaks ahead of our Premier League clash with Brighton 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/KB81UkJKme
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 17, 2026
“I don't know if we'll win tomorrow because of (going out) for dinner. The food was amazing.
“But if we win, I'm ready to pay for dinner every week. I believe in human relationships and the spirit and the soul of the players. We need everyone on the pitch to help their teammates and push for one target.
“If we don't achieve our target, everyone loses something in their career.”
A new date and time has been confirmed for our Premier League fixture against Aston Villa 🗓️ pic.twitter.com/gxNY8QWuTq
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 17, 2026
De Zerbi, whose Brighton career began against Spurs, confirmed that Kinsky would continue in goal with first-choice Guglielmo Vicario still not ready following a hernia operation.
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