Mathys Tel is set for a bigger role at Tottenham as Roberto De Zerbi looks to make the French forward a key part of his attack.
Spurs insider John Wenham believes former Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel will not face a repetition of last season’s registration saga at Tottenham Hotspur.
The 21-year-old French attacker endured a frustrating campaign under former manager Thomas Frank, being repeatedly included and removed from Tottenham‘s squad list due to strict foreign player limits. Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, Wenham explained that squad departures and domestic competition rules mean Tel will be a pivotal option for manager Roberto De Zerbi heading into the new season.
During the previous campaign, Tel was at the center of squad registration turbulence under Thomas Frank. The young forward was omitted from Tottenham’s European squad list in September due to foreign player constraints. Although he was reinstated in December following an injury to Dominic Solanke, he was taken back out of the squad in January after the knockout stage reshuffle.
Highlighting how challenging the situation was for the young forward, Wenham criticized the club’s past squad management. He said (h/t Tottenham News)
”Tel, they kept putting him in and then leaving him back out again. It was unbelievable what they did to the poor bloke, last season. All this fanfare about them putting him back in, then one game later, after the knockout, he was taken back out again.”
However, with Tottenham not competing in European football this term, alongside a significant summer clearance of non-homegrown talent, those registration constraints have largely vanished. Wenham noted:
”I think we’ll be alright in terms of our foreign player numbers, because we just keep moving people out the door.”
High-profile departures, including Djed Spence, former captain Cristian Romero, and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, have drastically reduced Tottenham’s non-homegrown squad count. This gives De Zerbi ample room to utilize his full roster without administrative headaches.
Starting Role on the Left Wing Under De Zerbi
With Tottenham yet to complete further wide additions late in the summer window, Tel is currently positioned as the primary starter on the left wing. Emphasizing Tel’s immediate importance on the flank, Wenham stated:
”He’s our starting left winger at the moment, because we haven’t signed anybody, he’ll have to play.”
Despite last season’s registration disruptions, Tel demonstrated bright moments in North London, recording five goals and two assists across 40 appearances in all competitions.
More importantly, De Zerbi has consistently shown faith in the Frenchman’s potential. After taking charge for the final seven matches of last season, De Zerbi handed Tel four starts and featured him in every single game under his tenure. Having proved his tactical adaptability and work rate during pre-season, Tel is well-positioned to take a major step forward alongside high-caliber summer additions like Xavi Simons and Sandro Tonali.
If Spurs do not add another wide player before the transfer window closes, Tel will have an unprecedented opportunity to cement himself as an indispensable starter in De Zerbi’s dynamic attacking unit.
