Ange Postecoglou praises Mathys Tel for stepping up when Tottenham Hotspur need him
Tottenham remain in 16th place in the Prem after a 1-1 draw with West Ham on Sunday afternoon. Ahead of the London derby, Ange Postecoglou made eight changes to his line-up, keeping Thursday’s Europa League semi-final in mind. Postecoglou was careful not to risk his key players before the second leg against Bodo/Glimt. After the 3-1 victory over the Norwegian side three days ago, only Vicario, Yves Bissouma, and Richarlison kept their places in the starting XI. Following the performance against West Ham, Postecoglou praised Mathys Tel, who provided an assist, leaving us uncertain whether he will start in the second leg against Bodo/Glimt.
Tottenham remain in 16th place in the Premier League following a 1-1 draw with West Ham on Sunday afternoon. With one eye firmly on Thursday’s Europa League semi-final second leg against Bodø/Glimt, Ange Postecoglou made eight changes to his starting XI for the London derby.
Keen to avoid any unnecessary risks, the Spurs boss rested several key players, with only Guglielmo Vicario, Yves Bissouma, and Richarlison retaining their places from the 3-1 win over the Norwegian side three days prior. Despite the rotated squad, Postecoglou highlighted Mathys Tel’s performance, praising the young forward for his assist—though it remains unclear whether he has done enough to earn a start in the crucial European fixture.
Big Ange believes in the youngster
Tel has quickly established himself as one of Tottenham’s most promising rising stars, with his recent performances highlighting his growing influence. In the London derby against West Ham, the Frenchman showcased his quality by assisting Odobert’s opener and delivering two pinpoint passes to Richarlison—both of which the Brazilian failed to convert. Tel’s display certainly strengthened his case for a starting spot in Thursday’s crucial Europa League semi-final second leg against Bodø/Glimt.
Although he was perhaps unfortunate not to start the first leg, Tel made an impact off the bench, replacing Richarlison at halftime. Operating once again from the left flank, the loanee played a key role in Spurs taking the lead just 15 minutes into the match in East London. With form and confidence on his side, he may now be pushing for a well-deserved starting role in the European showdown.
Big Ange had all the praise for the youngster via Football.London
“Yeah, again, we’re asking some big jobs of him, playing in the left and then in the centre. He’s constantly learning. A lot of our guys I know will develop into top footballers. They have to go through this process of learning and adapting and understanding the demands of the Premier League and the demands of this football club.”
“We’ve asked a lot of Matty since he’s come in. He’s pretty much played in every game at some point. He’s taken in the information and he understands the role a little bit better, especially out on the left. Again, important for us. These last few weeks we’ve obviously had Sonny out. We’ve needed him to fill that void and I think he’s done that job well.”
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As fans, all we can do is hope that Tottenham make Mathys Tel’s move permanent. He has truly been a joy to watch. Since arriving at the club, the young Frenchman has featured in nearly every match, gaining invaluable minutes and steadily developing his understanding of his role, particularly on the left flank. In recent weeks, with Son Heung-min sidelined, Tel has stepped up impressively. Ange Postecoglou has publicly praised his performances, highlighting the maturity and impact he has shown in a crucial period. With the Europa League reaching its decisive stages, Tel looks poised to play an important role—perhaps even a decisive one- in Tottenham’s quest for long-awaited silverware.