France form puts Mathys Tel’s Tottenham role under scrutiny
Mathys Tel scored five goals in four games for France Under-21s during the international break, giving fresh context to reports that Roberto De Zerbi still believes in the Tottenham forward despite his difficult club form. The goals came for France, not Spurs; Tel has faced criticism after struggling to make an impact in north London.
International form contrasts with Spurs struggles
A report from Foot Mercato, relayed by Sport Witness and cited by Spurs Web on Sunday 11 October, says De Zerbi continues to have faith in Tel. The forward was left out of Tottenham’s squad for the 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa and remained on the bench for the 1-1 draw with Manchester United.
Spurs Web also points to injuries among Tottenham’s attackers and underwhelming form from several forwards as part of the wider problem in attack. Tel has one Premier League goal this season, according to the report. His struggles in Tottenham’s wide positions have become part of a broader discussion about how the club’s forwards are being used.
The contrast was stark in France’s 7-1 win over Switzerland on Tuesday 6 October, when Tel scored a hat-trick. That took him to 17 goals for France Under-21s, level with Odsonne Édouard as the joint-top scorer in the modern history of the team, according to the reports.
Five goals in four international appearances are a meaningful return, but they do not settle the question Spurs need answered: whether Tel can produce consistently at Premier League level. The France run offers evidence of his scoring form in a different setting, while his club record remains the measure De Zerbi and Tottenham will have to assess.
Tottenham reportedly do not plan to sell
Spurs Web also cites a Football Insider update saying Tottenham have no intention of listening to offers for Tel in January. The same report says De Zerbi has told the club he wants the forward to stay; neither point is presented as an on-record statement from the manager or the club.
That reported position suggests Tottenham are not treating Tel’s recent difficulties as a reason to move him on. His next challenge is to carry some of the confidence and finishing shown for France into his club performances. The attacking approach De Zerbi is trying to establish will form part of that test, but the goals ultimately need to arrive in a Tottenham shirt.
