Roberto De Zerbi moved quickly to dismiss suggestions of tension with Mathys Tel following Tottenham's goalless draw against Everton at home on Saturday, even after cameras caught an animated exchange between the two on the pitch at full-time.
The stalemate marked the fourth consecutive Premier League game in which Spurs failed to find the net, deepening concerns about the team's attacking output despite spells of promising football. Immediately after the final whistle, De Zerbi was seen giving Tel pointed instructions, prompting a visible flash of irritation from the young forward before the manager moved on to speak with other members of the squad.
Asked about the moment afterward, De Zerbi confirmed he had been coaching Tel in real time but denied there was any underlying conflict. "Yes, I coached him on the pitch," he said. "The body shape. He is a striker and the striker can play with the shoulder on the goal."
The Italian elaborated on his tactical thinking, explaining how Tel's positioning needs to adapt depending on the personnel around him. "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 explained. "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."
Tel has been deployed predominantly on the left wing for Tottenham this season, but De Zerbi's comments suggest he wants the 21-year-old to think more centrally and take up positions closer to goal, particularly given the club's current struggles to convert chances.
Against Everton, Spurs began brightly, creating several promising openings in the first 20 minutes, but they could not seriously trouble goalkeeper Jordan Pickford until a late attempt from Lucas Bergvall forced a save. Both Savio and Omar Marmoush showed moments of quality on the ball without managing to produce a decisive final touch.
Dominic Solanke, making his first Premier League start since April after returning from injury, also endured a quiet afternoon with minimal impact on proceedings. His struggles came against the backdrop of an unusual situation involving Richarlison, who was left out of Tottenham's 25-man Premier League squad and subsequently saw a proposed transfer to Vasco da Gama collapse. With Richarlison unavailable for domestic competition until 2027, the club will be relying heavily on Savio, Marmoush, Maddison and Kudus to rediscover their scoring touch.
De Zerbi remained measured in his assessment of the performance, pointing to a drop-off in intensity after a strong start. "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," he said.
He called for greater composure and efficiency in the final third going forward. "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."
Despite the frustration of a fourth blank in a row, De Zerbi expressed confidence in his squad's trajectory. "We have to do with the right spirit, but I can't say nothing 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."
Based on reporting from The Independent.