Roberto De Zerbi has backed a Tottenham youngster to step up and fill the void left by the injuries to Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke.
Tottenham continue to be without several key players, with Solanke and Xavi being the latest players to be added to the treatment table.
Their absences have severely dented the Lilywhites in their quest for survival, with some pundits not convinced that Spurs will score enough goals to stay up.
Some have wondered if De Zerbi could turn to a couple of academy youngsters to fill the void, but the Italian believes that the club already have one man in their senior set-up who can bail them out.
Roberto De Zerbi is hopeful that ‘big talent’ Mathys Tel will step up for Tottenham
Mathys Tel has not started any of the three games under De Zerbi, although he has made an impact as a substitute in all three matches.
The Tottenham Hotspur boss has now conceded that he has not used the Frenchman in his favoured position yet, but he fully believes the 21-year-old has all the qualities to become a top player. De Zerbi even called Tel “one of the best young players in Europe”.
De Zerbi said about Tel (via The Standard): “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.
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“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.”
De Zerbi backs Tel to fill Xavi Simons void
Xavi produced what was arguably his best performance in a Tottenham shirt against Brighton, which was why the Dutchman’s injury came as a bitter blow to the North Londoners.
De Zerbi believes the Netherlands international’s injury presents an opportunity for Tel to step up and showcase his quality.
The Italian added: “Now maybe without Xavi and Maddison and Odobert and all the other players, he (Tel) 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.
“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. 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.”