Tottenham Team Pedro Porro Returns for Chelsea Clash, Destiny Udogie Out

Tottenham Handed Pedro Porro Injury Boost Ahead of Chelsea Clash

Tottenham Hotspur have received a timely fitness boost with the return of defender Pedro Porro for their Premier League match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. However, fellow full-back Destiny Udogie remains unavailable due to a knee problem, manager Roberto De Zerbi confirmed.

Match: Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League
Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
Key Return: Pedro Porro available after hamstring injury
Key Absence: Destiny Udogie sidelined with knee issue
Quote: De Zerbi: “Pedro is back, [Udogie] is not available.”

Injury and Availability

Tottenham's squad is beginning to recover from a difficult period, but several key players remain doubtful for the trip to Chelsea. De Zerbi provided a mixed update on his squad's fitness during his pre-match press conference.

Pedro Porro: Available again after a month out with a hamstring injury sustained in the 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa. He travelled to Spain during the international break to see a specialist.
Destiny Udogie: Still sidelined with the knee problem he suffered in the 1-1 draw with Manchester United. De Zerbi said: “With the medical staff, we are trying to find the best way for him. But after Manchester United, I have not worked with him, and it is a problem. We are lucky because in the same position we have solutions.”
Omar Marmoush: Fit despite coming off in the 3-1 win over Coventry. De Zerbi: “Marmoush is good.”
Andy Robertson: Available after concerns when he came off against Coventry. De Zerbi: “Robertson is available.”
Dominic Solanke: Good, according to De Zerbi.
Lucas Bergvall: Out.
Savio: Out.
Dejan Kulusevski: Returned to action against Coventry (first competitive appearance in 526 days). De Zerbi unsure if he is ready for Chelsea: “Kulusevski also (I don't know if he is ready for tomorrow). Kulusevski worked well, but on the first day (after Coventry) he stayed individual.”
James Maddison: Made his first competitive start since May 2025 against Coventry. De Zerbi: “I don't know, because in the first three days Maddison didn't work with us, I don't know if he's ready for tomorrow.”

What was said

“Pedro is back, [Udogie] is not available.”
— Roberto De Zerbi, on the fitness of Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie

“With the medical staff, we are trying to find the best way for him. But after Manchester United, I have not worked with him, and it is a problem. We are lucky because in the same position we have solutions.”
— Roberto De Zerbi, on Destiny Udogie's knee injury

“Robertson is available, Marmoush is good, Solanke is good. Lucas Bergvall, Savio (are out), nothing more.”
— Roberto De Zerbi, on the availability of other squad members

“I don't know, because in the first three days Maddison didn't work with us, I don't know if he's ready for tomorrow. We can play also with Mathys Tel, we can play with Marmoush, we can play with Gallagher, or we have more solutions considering Pedro Porro can play.”
— Roberto De Zerbi, on James Maddison's fitness and attacking options

“Like I said many times, I don't want to take risks, because if you analyse this period of European football, you can see many injuries, not [just] for Tottenham, for everyone. So if I can, I don't want to take risks to lose many players for many games.”
— Roberto De Zerbi, on his cautious approach to player fitness

“Kulusevski also (I don't know if he is ready for tomorrow). Kulusevski worked well, but on the first day (after Coventry) he stayed individual.”
— Roberto De Zerbi, on Dejan Kulusevski's readiness

De Zerbi's cautious approach is understandable given Tottenham's injury struggles this season. The Italian manager is clearly reluctant to rush players back, especially with key fixtures on the horizon. His comments suggest that he will rotate his squad carefully, potentially handing opportunities to the likes of Mathys Tel and Omar Marmoush.

The numbers

526 days: Dejan Kulusevski's first competitive appearance for Tottenham before facing Coventry.
1 win: Tottenham's league victories so far this season.
7 consecutive wins: Chelsea's current winning streak against Tottenham in the league.
1 defeat: Chelsea's record at Stamford Bridge against Spurs since 1990.

Tactical Analysis: Why De Zerbi's Cautious Approach Makes Sense

Roberto De Zerbi faces a delicate balancing act. With Tottenham's squad still recovering from a spate of injuries, the Italian must decide whether to risk key players against a Chelsea side that has dominated this fixture. The return of Pedro Porro is a significant boost, offering an attacking outlet from right-back, but the absence of Destiny Udogie leaves a void on the left flank.

De Zerbi's mention of Mathys Tel, Omar Marmoush, and Gallagher as alternatives suggests he may opt for a more conservative attacking line-up. The potential absence of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski from the starting XI would deprive Spurs of creativity, but De Zerbi's priority is clearly avoiding further injuries. This could mean a more direct approach, utilising the pace of Marmoush and the fresh legs of Porro.

Chelsea's dominance in this fixture—seven consecutive league wins and just one home defeat to Spurs since 1990—will weigh heavily on De Zerbi's mind. However, with Tottenham's injury list slowly clearing, a pragmatic, defensive set-up might be the order of the day, aiming to frustrate Chelsea and hit on the counter. The manager's insistence on not taking risks indicates that he values long-term squad health over a potential upset at Stamford Bridge.

Talking points

Should De Zerbi start Maddison and Kulusevski despite their lack of match fitness, or preserve them for winnable upcoming fixtures?
Is Pedro Porro's return enough to shore up a defence that has struggled against Chelsea in recent years?
Can Tottenham's fringe players like Tel and Gallagher step up in a hostile away environment?
Does Chelsea's historical dominance make this a free hit for Spurs, or is a positive result essential to kickstart their season?

What happens next

Tottenham face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on [date]. Following that, they have a series of fixtures that could define their season. De Zerbi will assess the fitness of Maddison and Kulusevski after the Chelsea match, with a decision on their involvement likely to come closer to kick-off. The club will also continue to monitor Udogie's knee injury, with no return date set.