Tottenham vs Charlton: Spurs Aim to Restore Credibility in Carabao Cup
Tottenham Hotspur return to the pitch on Wednesday night with more than a place in the next round of the Carabao Cup at stake. Pride, credibility and the first fragile layers of identity under Roberto De Zerbi are all on the line when Charlton Athletic arrive in north London.
Four days earlier, Spurs were taken apart. A 3-0 defeat in their Premier League opener against Brentford was not just heavy; it was lifeless. The performance was flat, the structure loose, the attack blunt. De Zerbi did not hide from it, admitting that his expensively rebuilt squad is “not a team yet”.
The Carabao Cup now offers a quick chance to respond. It has to.
Spurs’ rebuild meets its first test
More than £350 million has been poured into this Tottenham squad over the summer, a statement of intent that had supporters buzzing before a ball was kicked. None of that optimism made it onto the pitch at the weekend. Spurs struggled for any rhythm, rarely looked threatening and never looked convincing.
That is the backdrop to Charlton’s visit. On paper, it is a tie Tottenham should control. History certainly leans their way: Spurs have won the last five meetings between the sides, scoring 16 and conceding just four across those games.
But the numbers do not tell the whole story of this week. Charlton arrive with momentum.
The Addicks have started sharply, winning both of their opening Championship fixtures and then easing past Cheltenham Town in the first round of this competition. Confidence is growing in south-east London, and this is exactly the kind of occasion that can supercharge a season if they sense any weakness.
De Zerbi will not need reminding that a team in form, with nothing to lose, can punish any hint of complacency. Tottenham, still nursing the bruises of Saturday, cannot afford to drift through this one.
De Zerbi to rotate – but not gamble
The Italian is expected to rotate his side, but not to take risks with the result. This is a chance to reset the mood, not a night for experiments that invite another setback.
All eyes will be on Savio. The £85 million signing is now fully registered and available for his debut. De Zerbi has kept his selection plans quiet, refusing to say whether the Brazilian will start or be unleashed from the bench, but the temptation to use him is obvious.
Tottenham are light in attack. James Maddison is out for around two weeks after suffering a small shoulder fracture at the weekend, stripping Spurs of their primary creative hub. Mohammed Kudus remains unavailable as he continues his recovery from a thigh injury. The list of absentees does not end there: Dejan Kulusevski, Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons are all long-term concerns.
That leaves De Zerbi juggling options. The good news comes at the back. Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro will be included in a matchday squad for the first time this season, though both are expected to start on the bench as they build fitness.
Up front, there is a boost. Dominic Solanke is fit enough to start after returning from injury as a substitute in the defeat to Brentford. His presence gives Spurs a focal point they badly lacked in phases of that game.
Archie Gray could keep his place at right-back, a sign of the trust already being placed in the youngster. In midfield, Lucas Bergvall, Rodrigo Bentancur and another big-money arrival, £85 million man Mateus Fernandes, are all pushing to start and inject some urgency and control.
On the fringes, Luca Williams-Barnett is set to be among the substitutes again after catching the eye in pre-season. For a club trying to turn a lavish rebuild into a functioning squad, these minutes matter.
Tottenham know what this tie represents. It is not just a step in a cup run. It is a chance to restore belief before the Premier League returns at the weekend, to show that Saturday was a jolt rather than a warning. Charlton will test that idea. How Spurs respond will say plenty about where this new project is really heading.
