Mateus Fernandes up for Premier League award after Stamford Bridge masterclass
Mateus Fernandes is in the running for the Premier League’s Player of the Matchweek award after his commanding display in Tottenham’s 2-0 win at Chelsea, and the Portuguese midfielder believes the victory can be a turning point for Roberto De Zerbi’s squad.
The numbers behind the nomination
Fernandes came back into the starting line-up at Stamford Bridge for the first time since the international break and ran the game from the base of midfield alongside Sandro Tonali, the other midfielder who arrived in the summer. Spurs supporters had already voted him their Player of the Match, and the league has now added him to its weekly shortlist.
According to the club’s announcement, nobody on the pitch matched him in several key areas. He completed 102 passes, had 124 touches, created two chances, delivered five crosses and won five tackles, topping the charts in every one of those categories.
Fans can back the former West Ham man in the public vote, which stays open until 12 noon on Wednesday 28 October.
“The change point for everybody”
Fernandes was not shy about where he thinks the shift in form began. De Zerbi took his players and staff to Spain for a training camp after the 10 October draw against Manchester United, and Spurs have won both league games since, starting with the 3-1 victory over Coventry.
“Marbella was very important for us as a team,” Fernandes said in an interview with the club’s media team. “I think it builds a very good relationship with everyone, with the staff, with the team, with the team-mates. Now we’re playing as a team. I think this is the change point for everybody.”
He also spoke about the mentality the squad took to Stamford Bridge, a ground where Spurs have won very few times. “We know that Tottenham don’t have a lot of victories in this stadium. So, we wanted to change this mentality around the club, around the fans. We want to fight for big things, for titles.”
A bigger role in a changing midfield
The timing of his return to the side mattered. He started on the bench at Old Trafford, which left De Zerbi with a midfield decision to make before the Coventry game. At Chelsea he made his case as strongly as he could, helping Spurs control a match that the head coach called a complete performance.
With James Maddison awaiting the verdict on his own fitness after going off early at Stamford Bridge, Fernandes’ energy and reliability in the middle of the park could become even more important over the coming weeks.
“This is our challenge, so we keep going, keep going, keep going, working hard, believing in everyone in the club and doing the right things,” he added. If the supporters’ vote goes his way on Wednesday, he will have some individual recognition to go with it.
