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12 September 2026

Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi said there is no issue with Mathys Tel after the two were seen in an animated conversation following Spurs’ 0-0 home draw against Everton.

Spurs are still without a win and have yet to score after four league matches, with another disappointing display at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium extending their difficult start.

For yet another time this season, Tottenham struggled in attack, and television cameras picked up De Zerbi in a lengthy discussion with second-half substitute Tel at the final whistle.

Used as a makeshift centre-forward, Tel found it difficult to influence the match, and De Zerbi explained that he had spoken to the French forward about his display and the ways in which he could have had a greater impact on the game.

“Yes, I coached him on the pitch,” De Zerbi said in his post-match press conference.

“The body shape of a striker. The striker can play with the shoulder on the goal. If we are playing with (James) Maddison, (Mohammed) Kudus and Savio, he has to play as a striker, and the striker has to look at the goal, no?

“Or on the cross of Robertson. He has to stay inside because he started (his career) as a striker. Now he’s playing as a winger, but he started in his career as a striker.”

De Zerbi had openly criticised Tel’s display against Nottingham Forest last weekend and then named him among the substitutes against Everton, with Dominic Solanke returning to the starting XI for the first time since April.

Even though Tel was left out of the starting side, De Zerbi stressed that his comments to the 21-year-old came only from a supportive place.

“But I love Mathys as a player, as a guy. There is not a problem.”