Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi held a pre-match press conference ahead of the Premier League Round 6 away fixture against Manchester United. De Zerbi addressed questions about the physical condition of Van de Ven and Van Hecke, the team's preparations during the international break, attacking efficiency, Maddison's availability, and the injury status of Porro, Mudryk, and Kulusevski.

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Reporter: Hi, Roberto, have you missed us?

De Zerbi: Yes, I've missed you all terribly. (laughs)

Reporter: Micky Van de Ven and Jan Paul Van Hecke may have picked up injuries while on international duty with the Dutch national team. Will they be unavailable for tomorrow's match? Who else will be out?

De Zerbi: No, they are both available. Micky played four games, nearly 90 minutes in each. Jan Paul played only three games—that's the difference. Additionally, Jan Paul welcomed twins yesterday, so from an emotional and family perspective, we must consider that. But both can play tomorrow.

Reporter: How difficult was it to head into the international break following a loss? Did this period allow you to regroup and recharge? How have you felt over the past few weeks?

De Zerbi: It was very tough. Those days were very, very difficult, especially the first week—it was very painful. But that's football, and it's the reality we have to face right now. We must respond positively and work hard to get through this difficult period.

Reporter: But you must be excited to return to action. After all, you're ready for the challenge—the big game is about to start against Manchester United. Let's go all out.

De Zerbi: Yes, I've been waiting for this match for three weeks. After losing at home to Aston Villa, I wanted to play the next game immediately, the very next day.

Reporter: Good afternoon. Does the fact that you scored two goals at home against Aston Villa give you enough confidence that the lack of goals upfront, evident in previous matches, has been resolved?

De Zerbi: No, I don't think that's the case at all. In the last seven games, we created enough scoring opportunities and should have scored more goals. But we didn't capitalize. We've been working hard to improve our performance in the attacking third, including our passing and finishing. I think our attacking strength alone is enough to score more goals. In any case, the most crucial prerequisite is to get the ball into the opponent's box. In terms of how many times we've pushed into the box, we've done it many, many times. We are ranked fourth in the league for box entries. Although statistics alone don't tell the whole story, it proves we are fully capable of reaching dangerous areas. However, our finishing efficiency when squandering clear-cut chances is currently not good enough.

Reporter: You've talked many times about the choice for the number ten position. Will we see James Maddison start tomorrow?

De Zerbi: He's fully available, but he missed three or four days of training at the beginning of this week and the end of last week. As I've repeatedly emphasized, James is an extraordinary player for us, both in terms of his footballing ability and his leadership. But Gallagher has also performed very well, especially in the last two games against Liverpool and Aston Villa.

Reporter: One last question—as the manager of Tottenham Hotspur, does leading the team into tomorrow's match signify a crucial fixture for the club?

De Zerbi: Of course, because we are Tottenham, and Tottenham versus Manchester United is always a pinnacle clash between two Premier League giants. We must be worthy of playing for this great club, play better football, and strive for a completely different outcome.

Reporter: Hi, Roberto. I'd like to ask about Pedro Porro and Mudryk—how are they recovering? Also, what exactly was James Maddison's previous issue?

De Zerbi: Maddison has the same old problem. As for Porro and Mudryk, neither will be available tomorrow. Pedro Porro might be out for quite some time, missing several games; Mudryk's injury layoff will likely be even longer.

Reporter: Seeing Dejan Kulusevski still training, is everything going well with him?

De Zerbi: He's training very well and will travel with the team tomorrow. Porro will also travel with the team. For tonight's and tomorrow's preparations, I want all the players to be together. Kulusevski works very hard, and I think Dejan is a role model for everyone. Apart from his footballing skills, his resilient response to injury setbacks and unyielding attitude in the face of adversity—the strong mindset he has shown during this period—make him a benchmark and example for the entire team.

Reporter: I know you don't want to put any pressure on him, which is perfectly understandable, but how far do you think he is from returning? Is he very close to being back on the matchday squad list?

De Zerbi: I don't know—it doesn't entirely depend on me. We are working closely with the medical team. The doctors and physiotherapists are doing an excellent job with him, putting in special effort. We have to dynamically assess his physical condition every week.

Reporter: Hi, Roberto. Regarding James Maddison—he's been out for so long with recurring minor injuries that prevent him from training consistently. How frustrating must this be for you and for him?

De Zerbi: Are you saying it's frustrating for him?

Reporter: Or for both of you.

De Zerbi: Yes, for both of us. Because he's an exceptionally good player, and not being able to be on the pitch, suffering from minor injuries, is very tough for him. Fortunately, this injury is not serious, and he can certainly play tomorrow. However, the Premier League is extremely demanding physically, requiring 100% fitness and excellent physical condition to compete in high-intensity battles, runs, and physical contests. It's true that he's a number ten with a unique technical style, but I think his training attitude is very good, and that's the right approach. The correct path is to complete three, four, or even five weeks of high-intensity systematic training consecutively, without relapses, without feeling any pain, and without any hidden dangers. At that point, he will be a completely healthy, regular player, free from any worries.

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