On paper, the fullback positions were supposed to be an area of strength for Tottenham Hotspur, even after selling England star Djed Spence to Inter Milan in the summer. Spurs had the best right back in the world from World Cup champions Spain, Pedro Porro, as well as two well known Premier League left backs in Destiny Udogie and free agent signing Andy Robertson from Liverpool.
But so far, Spurs have not been giving their wingers enough support from the flanks. Porro has barely been able to start this season due to lingering fitness issues from his grueling World Cup, and after only just returning to the starting lineup again, Porro suffered an apparent hamstring injury against Aston Villa after just 18 minutes of action.
Meanwhile, left back Destiny Udogie's injury issues continue to be a recurring theme, and he did not start another Premier League game this weekend against Villa. It's not that he was doing all that well before that, but, once again, Robertson proved that there is a clear difference in class between himself and the Italian international at this stage of their careers, playing poorly in the 3-2 loss to the Lions, including surrendering a goal all on his own with an inexcusable error.
Andy Robertson has fallen off the elite list
But it is quite interesting that before the loss to Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi went as far as to say that he might have the best fullbacks in the Premier League. He told reporters, via The Spurs Express, "We have maybe the best full-backs in the Premier League. Robertson, Udogie and Pedro Porro."
Although Pedro Porro has not shown it consistently for Spurs, including this season due to injury, he was so good at the World Cup that nobody will dispute that he is one of the best right backs in the Premier League. Andy Robertson used to be an elite left back, but after two terrible seasons at Liverpool, that is not a position held by many these days.
And while Destiny Udogie, in theory, should be one of the best left backs, nobody can truly say that he is because he just isn't fit enough on a consistent basis. His most recent film leaves something to be desired, too, including in the second half of the 2025/26 season.
De Zerbi calling these three among the best in the league is flattering praise, but it is not measured up to by the left backs, which means it is high pressure on Udogie and Robbo, going forward, to prove their manager right and step it up. This is motivation 101 from RDZ.
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