De Zerbi's Spurs boosted by return of Bentancur but Romero out for season

[p]Uruguayan [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bentancur-rodrigo/nLRMnJtJ/"]Bentancur[/a] has been out since early ‌January with a serious hamstring injury that required surgery.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tottenham/UDg08Ohm/"]Spurs[/a] are in 18th place with six games ‌remaining, two points behind the safety zone, and in danger of a ‌first relegation from the top flight since 1977.[/p][p]The return of Bentancur and fellow midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bissouma-yves/CSdILBh7/"]‌Yves Bissouma[/a] is welcome news for the club's new boss, De Zerbi, ahead ‌of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/brighton-2XrRecc3/tottenham-UDg08Ohm/?mid=xAqy8o4m"]his first home game in charge[/a], although he confirmed that Argentina international [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/romero-cristian/jBZTWXMn/"]Cristian Romero[/a] is out for the season.[/p][p][b]"Bentancur is available to play,"[/b] the Italian told reporters on Friday. [b]"I don't ‌know if he'll start the game or not. ⁠Bissouma is available."[/b][/p][video alt="Tottenham vs Brighton (video preview)" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="abf34b55-029e-495e-90f9-efb2ca7a39aa" id="6e413324-d73b-44ac-a62c-ef2ab2063616" /][p]Tottenham captain Romero injured his ‌knee in a collision with goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kinsky-antonin/hv1U4aGj/"]Antonin Kinsky[/a] during the 1-0 defeat at Sunderland last ​weekend, a result that stretched their winless league run to 14.[/p][p][b]"Romero, I'm really sorry for him and his injury," [/b]De Zerbi said.[/p][p][b]"First of ​all, non-stop, the people have to know he's suffering because of this injury and because he can't play any more for us in this season.[/b][/p][p]"He's a ⁠great captain for us. We ​have to be positive, we have [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dragusin-radu/ELzKkDJF/"]Radu Dragusin[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/danso-kevin/z1MBQMNN/"]Kevin Danso[/a], they are very good to play and give us quality with the ball."[/p][embed guid="3784f73d-4a3e-41f3-af29-238eef7a3e55" url="https://x.com/SpursOfficial/status/2044823132809093459" social-type="twitter" /][p]De Zerbi, Spurs' third manager this season, has little time to turn the London club's fortunes around, and ‌said their survival prospects were as much about mentality as ability.[/p][h2]De Zerbi tries to lift spirits[/h2][p]He attempted to raise morale this week by taking the first team out for a meal.[/p][p][b]"I have to get to know my players better and better each week,"[/b] De Zerbi said. "We have no time to lose. I can bring myself, my philosophy of football, but I'm working to create a good atmosphere, a good relationship with the players.[/p][p][b]"I think in this moment for Tottenham the qualities of the players are important, but the spirit and the love the players put into their club ‌are more important."[/b][/p][p][b]"I don't know if we'll win tomorrow because of (going out) for ​dinner. The food was amazing.[/b][/p][p][b]"But if we win, I'm ready to ‌pay for dinner every week. I believe in human relationships and the spirit and the soul of the players. We need everyone on the pitch to help their teammates and push for one target.[/b][/p][p]"If we don't achieve our target, everyone loses something in their career."[/p][image alt="Tottenham's final matches this season" id="000b16f1-1f36-4390-9b95-1a11ad0cc53b" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="3ced26bc-e73f-4a7a-854e-c99741964002" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p]De Zerbi, whose [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brighton/2XrRecc3/"]Brighton[/a] ⁠career began against Spurs, confirmed that Kinsky ⁠would continue in goal with ‌first-choice [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vicario-guglielmo/0fdL3XXa/"]Guglielmo Vicario[/a] still not ready following a hernia operation.[/p]