Roberto De Zerbi came close to handing Luca Williams-Barnett his first Premier League start at Stamford Bridge, and he says the 18-year-old is ready to start whatever the results.
The Tottenham head coach was asked about Luca Williams-Barnett in his press conference on Friday afternoon, the day before the trip to Leeds United. His answer will only add to the noise around a teenager who almost set up a goal for Mohammed Kudus with a run and cross on his debut against Crystal Palace last weekend.
So far the academy forward has two substitute appearances and 14 minutes this season. That could be about to change.
Why didn’t Williams-Barnett start against Chelsea?
De Zerbi thought about it. In the end he decided the timing wasn’t right, and he sees protecting the youngster as part of his job.
“It is my responsibility because when you manage young players and so big talents like Luca, it is a bigger responsibility for me. He has to be ready when he goes on the pitch,” De Zerbi said. “I think it (does) not depend on the result, he can play from the beginning. Before the Chelsea game, I thought to play with him in the first XI, but in the end you have to find the right moment and for them also.”
He added that age doesn’t come into it: “The most important is the quality, personality, the behaviour on the pitch and the qualities. And Luca has all of these qualities.”
A special talent from day one
RDZ also said he knew what he had as soon as pre-season started. “You recognise the special talent immediately and he doesn’t need to show something special, you understand? Everything that he does (is enough) and he is one of the special talents,” he said.
His advice for the next step was to learn from the senior players, naming Andy Robertson, James Maddison and Ben Davies, and to be patient about minutes. We covered where he came from and how he plays in our Luca Williams-Barnett scouting report.
Pedro Porro decision still open
The other big selection call is at right-back. Pedro Porro was on the bench against Palace after telling his manager he didn’t feel comfortable starting so soon after a month out with a hamstring injury. De Zerbi hasn’t decided whether he comes back in at Elland Road, but he was clear about one thing.
“I have not decided yet about Pedro Porro, but it is not a tactical decision. When Pedro Porro is fit, he plays because he is a top player, top guy, leader, clear leader, without problems,” he said.
Archie Gray has filled in, and De Zerbi couldn’t have been warmer about him. “Archie Gray is one of the best players in this moment, as a condition, as a confidence. He is playing very well,” he said, before calling Gray “the future of this club for the national team as well.” Gray returns to the club where he made his senior debut.
Tottenham team news for Leeds
Savio, Lucas Bergvall and Mudryk are all unavailable. There was better news on Tosin Adarabioyo, who is fit again and rejoined the group on Thursday.
De Zerbi was wary of the trip itself, calling Leeds “one of the toughest stadiums in the Premier League”. Spurs kick off at 12.30pm UK time on Saturday looking for a fourth straight league win, after beating Coventry, Chelsea and Palace. He also traced the turnaround to a meeting of players and staff the day before the Manchester United draw: “The players were honest, we spoke about the problems and how we could change this season.”
Verdict: Williams-Barnett’s start is coming
When a manager says out loud that he nearly started a teenager in a London derby away from home, and that results won’t decide it, the first start isn’t far away. Elland Road may come too soon for that, and our predicted Tottenham lineup vs Leeds sets out how we see Spurs lining up there. But if Spurs keep winning, the Luca Williams-Barnett start that De Zerbi talked about at Chelsea will come sooner rather than later.
