It is all on the line on Tuesday night for Tottenham Hotspur when they take on Chelsea in the Premier League, and regardless of what happens between Newcastle United and West Ham United on Sunday, Spurs need a positive response against a Blues side that embarrassed them earlier in the 2025/26 Premier League campaign under Thomas Frank.
Here are five players Roberto De Zerbi absolutely has to start on Tuesday at Stamford Bridge if he wants to get all the points against one of Spurs biggest rivals.
GK Antonin Kinsky
It looks like Guglielmo Vicario is about to come back from his hernia repair, but that should not matter one bit. Antonin Kinsky has been the better keeper these past few weeks and put on his best performance to date against Leeds United. De Zerbi cannot bench this guy.
CB Micky van de Ven
Micky van de Ven has really risen to the occasion under De Zerbi, shedding a few months of terrible football to return to form as the center back Tottenham needed. To complete saving his reputation, Van de Ven needs to keep playing well, but he is the best they have right now, no doubt.
RB Pedro Porro
Pedro Porro is another top player who is back to living up to his billing with Roberto De Zerbi in charge. He has quietly been one of the team's best players since the Italian manager took over, and with no other alternative at right back, he may be the most obvious starter of them all.
CM Rodrigo Bentancur
Conor Gallagher and Joao Palhinha have been impressing lately, but Rodrigo Bentancur has been the real glue guy in midfield, to the point where Tottenham Hotspur fans aren't even pining about the promising Archie Gray sitting on the bench. Bentancur has been Spurs best player over the past few weeks since De Zerbi taking charge, totally undoing the narrative he was writing about himself in the first half of the season under Thomas Frank.
LW Mathys Tel
Yes, Mathys Tel made a couple of terrible errors against Leeds United that helped cost Spurs a point, but he wasn't the only poor performer in that second half. And it was Tel's brilliant goal that gave Tottenham the edge to begin with. Tel is the only competent forward left for Spurs right now, and De Zerbi can see just how much energy he brings to the table. They need him on that left wing to have a fighting chance at generating real threat vs. Chelsea.
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