*This content was translated by AI.
How serious must the internal situation have been to take such drastic measures? After barely avoiding relegation at the end of a disastrous season, Tottenham Hotspur is launching an internal audit to uncover the cause of the injury curse that plagued the team throughout the campaign.
British media outlet 'BBC' reported on the 27th (Korea time) that "Tottenham has launched a comprehensive internal audit and review to identify the causes of the unprecedented surge in ACL injuries and the health issues that shook the foundation of the squad this season."
Tottenham secured their EPL survival with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Everton in the final match of the season.
However, the club endured its worst slump of the season due to a string of injuries to key players. According to club statistics, Tottenham players' average availability rate last season was a mere 77%, and the total number of days lost to injury across the entire squad exceeded 2,000 days. The club has set a goal to comprehensively improve these figures to an availability rate of over 90% and total injury days of less than 1,000.
This major investigation is being directly led by Dan Lewendon, the performance director who transferred to Tottenham from City Football Group earlier this year. This season, Tottenham suffered fatal injuries requiring long-term absences for James Maddison, Wilson Odobert, and Savi Simons, all of whom sustained anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears. Additionally, Dejan Kulusevski underwent surgery for a severe knee injury sustained in late 2024–2025, causing him to miss the entire season.
The audit team is analyzing multiple factors to determine the cause of the injury explosion. According to 'BBC', the audit includes a detailed comparative analysis of the home stadium's turf rebound properties against conditions at training grounds and rival stadiums. So far, investigations have found no significant difference in the home turf condition compared to other clubs, but precise testing continues.
However, the club drew a line regarding the on-site response to Simons' injury, which drew fierce criticism from fans, stating that no additional damage occurred. Although broadcast footage showed medical staff allowing Simons, who had suffered a serious knee injury, to walk with weight on his leg, sparking outrage, the club remains confident that no further injury occurred during the on-site treatment process.
Director Lewendon, leading the audit, recommended a complete overhaul of the medical support system to be fully personalized. The medical staff plans to build a customized system that integrates not only each player's muscle strength, fatigue levels, and physical durability but also psychological data, to be used immediately for injury treatment and prevention. Additionally, the club has decided to exercise flexibility by allowing injured players to undergo part of their rehabilitation with external experts or in their home countries outside of club facilities.
The lack of a systematic approach to coaching staff changes was also identified as a cause of the injuries. Tottenham experienced severe turmoil, changing its manager three times in the past 12 months, which has been criticized for negatively affecting the players' physical management.
The 'BBC' added that "the medical team has agreed to establish a close cooperative system with new manager Roberto De Zerbi and the coaching staff," and that "an integrated structure will be introduced where De Zerbi, the medical department, and players all participate in scientifically determining the return timeline. Additionally, a full-time chief psychologist position dedicated to managing the mental health of the squad and staff will be established."
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*This content was translated by AI.
