Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 defeat to Leeds United left supporters raising questions over Roberto De Zerbi’s late tactical substitutions as Spurs chased an equalizer at Elland Road. With Mohammed Kudus tiring down the right flank and the attack lacking creative spark, many expected playmaker James Maddison to be introduced from the bench.

However, De Zerbi opted against bringing on the England international, instead turning to youngster Luca Williams-Barnett in the closing stages. As captured by broadcaster Chris Cowlin on X, De Zerbi provided clear context regarding Maddison’s physical condition and the tactical reasoning behind his late changes.

Limited Training Time Restricted Maddison’s Involvement

Addressing the media after the final whistle in West Yorkshire, De Zerbi explained that Maddison had only recently resumed team training, making a high-intensity appearance at Elland Road a physical risk.

“Maddison started to work with the group on Thursday, but no total training. Today and yesterday, he worked just one day, one day and a half. It could be a solution, yes, but in that moment, I thought Kudus was tired, too tired, and in that position, Luca, in one-to-one, I mean, his speed is better than James, but in the future, when James is fit, we already know he plays, no?”

De Zerbi highlighted that Maddison’s incomplete training load made him a secondary option, prioritizing player safety ahead of the international break.

Beyond fitness constraints, De Zerbi’s decision was heavily dictated by the specific profile required on the pitch late in the game. With Kudus visibly fatigued after a difficult afternoon against Leeds’ fullback line, De Zerbi felt Tottenham needed pure acceleration and one-on-one take-on ability out wide rather than central creative passing.

By selecting Luca Williams-Barnett, De Zerbi sought to exploit wide spaces through raw pace. While the change failed to yield an equalizer before the final whistle, De Zerbi reassured fans that Maddison’s benching was purely situational. The Italian tactician made it explicitly clear that once Maddison completes a full block of training and regains 100 per cent match fitness, he remains a central pillar of Tottenham’s starting eleven moving forward.