Tottenham Hotspur’s Pedro Porro says it’s difficult with just ’13-14 players to train and play with’ at the Premier League side.
Igor Tudor’s side travel to Spain to face Atlético Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday. The return leg will be in north London next week.
Ahead of tomorrow’s clash, the right-back gave an interview to Radio Marca‘s La Tribu to assess Tottenham’s situation and their poor run in the Premier League.
Spurs enjoyed a good run in the Champions League group stage, winning five and losing one of their eight matches. This saw them finish fourth in the table, behind Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Liverpool.
However, the north London club have failed to replicate their European form in the Premier League. Spurs have seven wins from 29 league matches and are now 16th, one point above the relegation zone.
Tottenham’s major concerns
Radio Marca asked Porro why the English club have done well in Europe and so poorly in the Premier League.
When responding to that, the 26-year-old pointed out injuries to several players as the main reason.
“It’s difficult, because when you’re competing in four competitions under these circumstances… we already had that bad experience last year in the Premier League with so many injured players, and you just can’t compete,” he said.
“We have young players coming on strong, and looking at this season, it’s basically the same. You’re going to play against Arsenal, City, Liverpool, or Chelsea, and you just can’t.”
The Spain international even said the current injured players may be stronger than the fit players.
“We could field a starting eleven of injured players that might even be stronger than the eleven that’s currently playing. And it’s not out of disrespect to anyone, but that’s basically the reality,” Porro explained.
“We have to think and maintain a positive mindset. I’ve told my teammates, it’s difficult to compete like this, but we always have to give 100%, even though things aren’t going well in the Premier League, just like last year. We’re going to approach the tie with the same ambition we’ve shown so far in the Champions League.”
Analysis: Porro has a point
Dejan Kulusevski hasn’t featured for Spurs this season as he has been on the sidelines since May 2025.
Tottenham’s injury list includes the Swede, James Maddison, Mohammed Kudus, Rodrigo Bentancur, Ben Davies, Lucas Bergvall, Radu Drăgușin, Wilson Odobert, Destiny Udogie and Djed Spence.
Sweden manager Graham Potter said it’s going to be difficult for Kulusevski and Bergvall to make it for March’s international break.
Meanwhile, Micky van de Ven will be suspended for the next league clash after his sending off against Crystal Palace last Thursday.