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Tottenham Hotspur have initiated an in-depth internal review into their ongoing injury crisis, which has seen the team record more player absence days than any other Premier League club this season. The investigation is exploring a range of possible causes, including whether the stadium’s £1 billion retractable pitch design has influenced the squad’s growing list of fitness problems.

Retractable pitch under scrutiny

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is globally recognised for its advanced dual-surface system, which allows the natural grass football pitch to slide away, revealing an artificial turf for NFL fixtures and large-scale concerts. However, as per reports from Sky Sports, the club’s new performance director, Dan Lewindon, is now examining whether this technological innovation has contributed to a surge in serious leg and ligament injuries. While independent studies have already assessed the surface’s bounce and tension, findings have remained inconclusive, prompting further comparisons with other Premier League venues.

Concerns have intensified after several major injuries occurred specifically during home games. Key players such as Dejan Kulusevski, Radu Dragusin, and Wilson Odobert have all endured serious setbacks at N17. James Maddison too suffered a partial ACL tear during a home match against Bodo/Glimt before eventually rupturing it completely. The timing of Spurs’ inquiry coincides with Real Madrid’s own probe into a similar spate of ACL injuries following the installation of a retractable pitch at the revamped Santiago Bernabeu.

Structural issues and managerial instability

Beyond the question of the surface, Lewindon’s three-month review has reportedly identified deeper structural flaws within the club’s performance setup. Sources suggest a lack of coordination and shared decision-making between the medical and coaching teams has created a pattern of recurring injuries. In response, Spurs plan to adopt a “small-team structure,” assigning six players to each physiotherapist to ensure more individualised training regimens and improved physical preparation.

The club’s frequent managerial changes have also been cited as a contributing factor. Over the past year, four different head coaches — Ange Postecoglou, Thomas Frank, Igor Tudor, and Roberto De Zerbi — have taken charge, each introducing distinct tactical philosophies and training intensities. This constant change is believed to have heightened the physical strain on players, as they struggled to adapt to new demands within short periods.

Club defends medical staff over Simons injury

Tottenham’s medical department recently faced criticism for their handling of Xavi Simons’ season-ending injury. During a win over Wolves, Simons was treated with ice spray and briefly returned to play before being stretchered off with a ruptured ACL. Despite fan backlash, the club stood by the medical team’s decision. Lewindon was reportedly satisfied with the response, explaining that Simons had insisted on continuing, and given that ACL assessments are difficult to perform pitchside, allowing him to resume play was considered an appropriate judgment call.

The club also maintains that Simons’ brief return to the pitch did not worsen the injury. This episode added to a difficult start for De Zerbi, who also lost Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie to serious injuries within his first three matches. The Italian manager is said to be advocating for stronger player welfare measures, including hiring a team psychologist to enhance communication between the medical and performance staff.

Maddison calls for transparency

James Maddison has publicly called for a thorough review of the club’s fitness data, stating: “Our injury situation has been worse than any other club. People keep saying, ‘We’ve got this problem or that problem,’ but ours has been on another level. We need to understand why. Sometimes it’s just bad luck or coincidence — like me doing my ACL or [Dejan] Kulusevski getting a nasty knock from [Marc] Guehi. That’s not on the medical team or the pitch, sometimes it’s just random, and those theories you see can be nonsense.”

Despite acknowledging that some injuries were down to misfortune, Maddison believes the sheer number of absences severely hampered Tottenham’s campaign as they battled to stay clear of relegation. “We’ve had some bad luck,” he added. “But the big names we’ve missed — you can’t ignore that. Players like myself, Kulusevski, [Mohammed] Kudus, and [Rodrigo] Bentancur missed months. If we had them all season, we wouldn’t be in this position, that’s just a fact. But given how things turned out, I’m proud of how the lads kept fighting.”