De Zerbi says he did not bench Richarlison at Tottenham

Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has again addressed the Brazilian striker Richarlison’s marginalisation, insisting the decision to keep the forward out of the first‑team plan was not his. The comment came after Richarlison publicly backed criticism aimed at the coach.

Denial of responsibility

De Zerbi told reporters that the move to exclude Richarlison was taken by club chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange, not by him. “It is no longer my problem. You need to ask Vinai Venkatesham and Johan Lange. I was not the one who made that decision,” he said.

He added, “I have to accept the pressure and take responsibility, even when it is not mine,” underscoring his willingness to face scrutiny while distancing himself from the player’s status.

Wider fallout and future prospects

The episode gained fresh attention when former striker‑coach Duncan Ferguson questioned how Richarlison was being treated at the London club. Despite the criticism, De Zerbi insisted there is no personal issue with the Brazilian and that his focus remains on the team’s sporting challenges.

With Tottenham languishing in the lower reaches of the Premier League and struggling for goals, the striker’s absence is likely to be revisited in the January transfer window. A departure then is described as the most probable outcome.

Team updates and player statistics

In the same press conference De Zerbi confirmed the return of Dejan Kulusevski, who will be available for the upcoming match against Coventry after a long injury lay‑off. He also announced short‑term injuries to Brazilian midfielder Savinho and Swedish youngster Lucas Bergvall, the latter sidelined for about two weeks with a knee problem.

Richarlison has featured in 134 duels for the Spurs, recorded 32 shots and provided 15 assists during his time at the club. The story was first published by Gazeta Esportiva, which also promotes its Canal on YouTube, invites readers to Siga the outlet on Instagram and offers a WhatsApp channel for updates.