Tottenham Faces Injury Setbacks Before Premier League Opener

Tottenham will launch their new Premier League season without captain Micky van de Ven, vice-captain Pedro Porro and midfielder Pape Matar Sarr after a late flurry of fitness setbacks ahead of Saturday’s trip to Brentford.

Head coach Roberto De Zerbi confirmed on Friday that both Van de Ven and Porro have been ruled out of the opener, with Sarr joining them on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring issue in training.

“Micky is not on the list for tomorrow, like Pedro Porro,” De Zerbi said. “Pape Matar Sarr no, because he felt some pain in his hamstring today. Nothing serious, but we don’t take risks.”

Van de Ven’s problem dates back to pre-season in Australia.

“Today, he worked with the group, and he is going very well,” De Zerbi explained. “He suffered a problem during the pre-season of Australia, I don’t know if it was the flight, but not a big problem.”

The Italian was quick to stress that he still trusts the depth in his back line. “We have [Marcos] Senesi, we have Ben Davies and in the right condition to play the game tomorrow.”

Even so, the absences cut right through Tottenham’s leadership core. Van de Ven and Porro are the new captain and first vice-captain, leaving Spurs without either of their primary leaders on the pitch for the curtain-raiser in west London.

Ben Davies sits third in the hierarchy but is not expected to start, while fourth-choice leader James Maddison is short of match fitness. That opens the door for 18-year-old Archie Gray, fifth on the leadership list, to wear the armband while filling in at right-back for Porro.

A new season, a reshuffled defence, and a teenager potentially leading Tottenham out. Brentford away suddenly looks like an early test of this squad’s nerve as much as its talent.