The £85m star was one of Tottenham’s expensive summer buys.
There haven’t really been positives for Tottenham Hotspur to take home from the back-to-back defeats to Brentford and Newcastle United. But, if there has been one silver lining to talk about across the two league games, then it’s got to be Mateus Fernandes.
Spurs splashed £85m to sign Mateus Fernandes from West Ham in July, beating off competition from Manchester United and Liverpool to secure his signature. It would be a stretch to say that he has looked like an £85m player in the games against Brentford and Newcastle, but it would not be a stretch at all to say he was the best player on the pitch for Spurs on both occasions.
Roberto De Zerbi explains how good Mateus Fernandes can be for Tottenham
The one-cap Portugal international made his full Spurs debut in the Premier League against Newcastle, and despite his team suffering a 2-0 home defeat, Roberto De Zerbi felt that the midfielder played well and called him a “big talent”.
Ahead of Tottenham’s trip to Nottingham Forest, Roberto De Zerbi was asked how good Fernandes can be for the North London club. The Italian tactician pointed out that the 22-year-old is a versatile player, but he is deploying him in a No.10 role, which he is familiar with since his early days with Sporting CP.
“I think Mateus Fernandes, in the last game, played a good game. He can play better. I think he can play in different positions. For example, in this moment, I think Rodrigo Bentancur is very important for this team, because he’s the right player to give balance, to keep the order on the pitch,” De Zerbi said in his press conference (h/t Football London).
“He has experience. And so, we try to play with Mateus as the number 10. Mateus started his career as a number 10, and then last season he played as one of two midfielders. But he’s 2004, very young.
“I think also for him it’s very important, this moment, because he’s understanding the new club, understanding the new coach, the new environment. And so we have to give time, because like Bergvall, like Archie Gray, like Savio, because Savio is 2004, he’s the future of this club.”
Fernandes will be key vs. Nottingham Forest
Tottenham are trying to avoid the lows from successive 17th-placed Premier League finishes, and they splashed big in the summer. Fernandes has been one of the club’s most expensive recruits, and after a disruptive pre-season, he has been fully integrated into the side.
With Xavi Simons out with an ACL, James Maddison injury-prone, and Conor Gallagher not quite suited to the No.10 role, Fernandes has been used in that position by De Zerbi in the opening two league games. The Portuguese talent has thrived in an advanced role when factoring in his passing, movement, creativity, and technical quality. He has also shown tenacity to win possession for his team.
We can see our gaffer stick with the £85m man in the No.10 role against Nottingham Forest. Fernandes must demonstrate that he’s got the qualities to solve one of the club’s most pressing issues in midfield.
