Roberto De Zerbi plays down row with Mathys Tel as Tottenham goal drought continues

Roberto De Zerbi played down any problem with Tottenham forward Mathys Tel after Saturday’s 0-0 draw at home to Everton.

Spurs fired a blank in the Premier League for a fourth match in a row and De Zerbi’s immediate reaction after full-time was to give Tel some instructions on the pitch.

Tel expressed a hint of frustration before De Zerbi turned away to speak with other players, but the Tottenham boss insisted his only intention was to help the 21-year-old, who has played the majority of games for the club at left wing.

“Yes, I coached him on the pitch,” De Zerbi said.

Roberto De Zerbi played down any problem with Mathys Tel (Reuters)

“The body shape. He is a striker and the striker can play with the shoulder on the goal.

“If we are playing with (James) Maddison, (Mohammed) Kudus and Savio, (Tel) has to play as a striker and the striker has to look at the goal or the cross from (Andy) Robertson.

“He has to stay inside because he started as a striker eh? Now he is playing as a winger but he started his career as a striker, but I love Mathys as a player, as a guy and there is not a problem.”

What remains a problem is Spurs’ bluntness in attack.

Tottenham produced an accomplished opening 20 minutes where they fashioned several dangerous moments, but failed to test Jordan Pickford significantly until Lucas Bergvall had a late effort tipped wide.

For all the flashes of quality from Savio and Omar Marmoush, neither could find a telling contribution and this was another match which continued a worrying trend for fit again Dominic Solanke where he made minimal impact.

Solanke’s struggles on his first Premier League start since April were all the more frustrating given Richarlison watched from the sidelines after a dramatic 10 days where he was left out of the club’s 25-man Premier League squad list and then failed to secure a move to Vasco da Gama.

With Richarlison not an option in the division until 2027, Spurs must quickly turn the potential of Savio and Marmoush into tangible results and hope available duo Maddison and Kudus can start to make an impact again.

A calm De Zerbi insisted: “I think we played very well (for) the first 30 minutes and then maybe the energy? Maybe the fact we didn’t score? Maybe we lost in some players a little confidence.

“We have to be not positive but realistic. If we extend that part of the game 30 minutes to 60, 70, 80 and 90, in my opinion, for my belief, we are going to win many games.

“We have to improve in the last third of the pitch, for sure. The last decision, the last pass and we have to shoot more times especially when we have space and time to do.

“We have to do with the right spirit, but I can’t say nothing (sic) bad.

“I know how the players are working, I think we are in the right way but it’s tough to explain because four games without goals is tough to accept.”