Roberto De Zerbi has hinted that Mathys Tel could play a starring role for Tottenham in the final month of the Premier League season.
Tel has struggled for minutes this season after signing permanently from Bayern Munich last summer, following an initial six-month loan.
The 21-year-old has yet to start under De Zerbi, having also failed to nail down a regular starting berth under Igor Tudor and Thomas Frank.
He could, however, be handed an opportunity for more minutes following the news that Xavi Simons will miss the remainder of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
De Zerbi has always insisted that while Tel has not featured regularly since he took over from Tudor a month ago, he believes in the Frenchman’s talent.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, De Zerbi described Tel as “one of the best young players in Europe” and suggested he could be in line for a rare start away to Aston Villa on Sunday evening.
“He is a potential big player, a potential big talent at the moment and we have to help him become a top player because he has the right qualities to do that,” De Zerbi said.
“I’m sorry because I use him in not his favourite position, because he played two games as a right winger, against Wolves and Brighton. His favourite position is left winger but for example at Wolves he was important to win the corner for the goal.
“Now maybe without Xavi and Maddison and Odobert and all the other players he can feel more comfortable because he can prepare his game for one week without the thoughts of whether he plays or not. The responsibilities can be better for us and for him.”
Tel arrived at Spurs in January 2025 as a highly-rated talent after scoring 16 goals in 83 appearances for Bundesliga giants Bayern.
He left Bayern in search of more regular game time, but played a bit-part role as Spurs lifted the Europa League last season and saw the majority of his minutes come in the Premier League, with Ange Postecoglou prioritising Europe.
Tel, who has started just nine league games this season, has seen his development stall and his World Cup aspirations vanish this term.
But De Zerbi thinks Spurs’ injury issues could present Tel with an opportunity to start fulfilling his potential after another frustrating campaign.
“I don’t know (if he can fulfil his potential) but it can be the right moment for him. The players become great when they understand the right moment to become better,” De Zerbi continued.
“Xavi in my time spent the time and was becoming great, and I could feel something different from him in personality and confidence, in performances as well.
“I don’t know if the credit is mine but maybe he understood the right position, had the right confidence and the ideas of the coach so he made the most of the opportunity.”
