Tottenham manager Roberto de Zerbi has said the situation around forward Richarlison is 'not my problem any more'. The Brazilian, who wanted to leave in the summer, has been training away from the first team and recently played for the Under-21s.

De Zerbi made the comments ahead of Tottenham's Premier League match against Coventry City at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday. "I don’t know, it’s not my problem any more," he said. "You have to ask (Spurs CEO) Vinai (Venkatesham)...

The 29-year-old Brazil international, whose moves to Everton and Vasco da Gama collapsed, scored for the Under-21s in an EFL Trophy draw with Cheltenham on October 13. He later shared a social media post from his former Everton coach Duncan Ferguson, who had questioned his exclusion. "Thanks Duncan Ferguson, you are right," Richarlison wrote.

De Zerbi said his sole focus is on improving a team that sits bottom of the Premier League standings with just three points from six games, having scored only 4 goals while conceding 12. Their most recent result was a 1-1 draw at Manchester United, where Dominic Solanke scored a late equaliser, extending their winless run to four matches. The club's league position is 20th, with a record of no wins, three draws and three losses, and they have scored just three goals while conceding nine this season. They are 18 points behind the leaders, Manchester City.

Focus on Coventry

The Italian manager stressed he must now prepare for the visit of Coventry, a promoted side who have won their last two matches. "My focus is on the Coventry game and the focus is just to improve my team," de Zerbi stated. He praised Coventry's energy and specifically mentioned knowing their young forward Sidiki Cherif well. The next fixture is against Coventry at home on Saturday 17 October, with the visitors currently sitting 16th in the table.

Tottenham will be without the injured Savinho, Lucas Bergvall and Pedro Porro injuries, while Rodrigo Bentancur is suspended. There is positive news, however, with Dejan Kulusevski set to return after more than a year out with a knee injury. "I think it’s one of the best news... Because Deki he suffered too much," de Zerbi said.

The match against 16th-placed Coventry represents a critical opportunity for Spurs to claim a first league win of the season and start climbing the table. Their recent form shows no wins in the last five, with three draws and two defeats, a sequence that includes the 1-1 draw at Manchester United on Saturday 10 October and a 2-3 home defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday 19 September. Their next fixture fixtures after this is a trip to Aston Villa.

Read the full report at Straits Times Sport