Richarlison has taken a swipe at Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi after being left out of the League Cup squad against Liverpool.
The forward has been dropped from Spurs’ Premier League team, but is still available for tonight’s fixture.
Despite this, De Zerbi has not included the Brazilian, with football journalist Fabrizio Romano tweeting a quote from the Italian saying he will “not play even if he’s available”.
In response, Richarlison took to social media, writing, “Why?” about not being selected.
Spurs have failed to score in their first four Premier League games this season, with last season’s top scorer Richarlison omitted from the squad.
Commenting on his side’s issues with finding the net, De Zerbi said: “Nothing changes in my project, in my idea.
“I am sorry for the goals we didn’t score, but we have the qualities to score goals.
“We are building a new project, a new team. I can’t change my opinion about the players if they don’t win or don’t score. They are very good players.
Richarlison has taken a swipe at Roberto De Zerbi
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“If we want to change from the last two seasons, we have to be stronger and believe in the quality of the players and the decisions we made one month ago.
“You can change players or change coaches, change, change, change, and nothing changes. Or you stay humble, with the right spirit to work.
“I believe in my players. I hope they believe in themselves like I believe in them.”
Spurs currently sit 17th in the table, after picking up a couple of points from two draws in their first four league games.
The Brazilian took aim at his manager
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De Zerbi feels goals will eventually come and backed English striker Dominic Solanke to become the focal point and rediscover his form, saying he has no time for criticism of the forward.
He said: “I can’t understand why I have to think negative. Okay, because the last season he was injured many times, yes.
“It’s not the same as last season [compared to] this season. This season, I repeat, we have a top physical and medical staff. We do not have three games per week.
“I spoke with him, and I would like to manage him in the best way I can. In physical aspect and in mental aspect, because he’s a sensitive guy, he needs to feel full confidence and from myself he has big, big confidence.
Tottenham have had a tough start to the season, picking up two points out of 12
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REUTERS“I believe he can score 10-15 goals for sure. He’s already scored in Bournemouth, and why not he can score in Tottenham. It’s the same sport, different stadium, no pressure, because in our stadium if we push, if we play well, the fans are with us.
“I would like [Solanke] to play part of the game [against Liverpool]. I don’t know if at the beginning or at the end but one part of the game. It can be important for him.
“And then I think he comes back the player who was in Bournemouth. I remember Brighton-Bournemouth in the Amex Stadium, he was incredible. I said to my assistant: ‘Who is this striker?’
“My challenge is to help him and to put him in the right condition to score.”
