Mateus Fernandes has a chance to show a layer to his game crucial to Tottenham vs. Leeds
Mateus Fernandes finally got to start in his preferred position in the defensive midfield next to fellow blockbuster summer transfer Sandro Tonali in the big game against Chelsea, and the Portuguese interntional was indeed crucial to Spurs exorcising their demons against the Blues at Stamford Bridge.
These past two weeks, there is a serious case to be made that even above the likes of Jan Paul van Hecke and Tonali, Fernandes has been the most impressive player on the pitch. He was fantastic again this past weekend in a 2-0 win over another rival in Crystal Palace, leading the team with five tackles won while tying left winger Mathys Tel for the most key passes in the side with four.
It's easy to overlook, but Fernandes is one of Spurs leading assist providers this season with two, and the season before for a lowly West Ham United that got relegated, Fernandes had three goals and four assists as a defensive midfielder in his first Premier League season.
Tottenham need Mateus Fernandes to keep deciding games
Mateus Fernandes is a decisive No. 6/8 hybrid player, moreso than most players with his defensive quality, and that will be an important element to his game to display against Leeds United this weekend. Leeds have a very stingy defense that is third best in the league in terms of goals allowed despite them being 12th in the table, and they are going to play even more consolidated and defensive against Spurs, knowing how Spurs like to play and how well they have been playing these past three to four weeks since the last international break.
Tottenham Hotspur are seeing a more active Fernandes in the final third overall than what he was able to show at West Ham, owing to Spurs having more quality as a team as compared to the Hammers. But Tottenham are still not decisive enough, and while that is more down to the attackers than to the midfielders, help from all corners would be welcome.
Spurs actually saw the most decisive moment from Fernandes against Crystal Palace last weekend with a world class cross to center back Jan Paul van Hecke at the heart of the penalty area, and he has the opportunity to deliver more of that against Leeds. Fernandes's shooting from range, ability to crash the box, and crosses to big men in the penalty area will all be important sources of chance creation against a stingy Leeds defense that will make life as difficult as possible for Spurs.
