How Roberto De Zerbi can get the best out of Mathys Tel ahead of career-defining season

Mathys Tel has endured a difficult time at Tottenham Hotspur.

Signing permanently from Bayern Munich last summer, the forward disappointed with just four Premier League goals.

Spurs themselves endured a miserable 2025-26 campaign under Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor, leaving the club in an unexpected battle against relegation.

Roberto De Zerbi was subsequently appointed to steady the ship, with the Italian eventually securing Premier League survival through a final-day victory over Everton.

As the Lilywhites reset following the difficult year, De Zerbi is making wholesale changes to the squad.

With Tel left fighting for his spot, the question is there as to just whether his manager can get the best out of him.

Why Mathys Tel has struggled at Tottenham

Tel arrived on loan from Bayern Munich in January 2025 with a reputation as one of the most exciting young forwards in European football.

However, his development has not progressed as quickly as many at Tottenham would have hoped.

The Frenchman made 31 Premier League appearances last season but started only 13 times, contributing four goals and one assist.

Tel has demonstrated the quality of his ball-striking, scoring four times from an expected-goals total of just 2.44.

He also completed 29 crosses at a success rate of 31.2 per cent, while his ability to carry the ball remains one of his most useful attacking qualities.

Nevertheless, his overall involvement in dangerous areas has remained limited.

Tel registered only 35 shots across the league campaign and recorded 787 touches, with too few of those coming in positions where he could consistently threaten the opposition goal.

Unfortunately, he has struggled to make a real impact in the Premier League because he is simply not doing enough.

And not in a lack of quality way, but down to the fact that he is not shooting enough, not releasing the ball enough, and he needs to become more dominant and assertive if he is to succeed.

Roberto De Zerbi decision could determine Mathys Tel future

Tel was predominantly deployed from the left during the closing stages of last season, as analysed by Tottenham News, struggling alongside Randal Kolo Muani.

Tottenham’s injury problems partly dictated those selections, but the role may provide an indication of where the manager currently sees him.

And if Spurs continue their ambitious summer with another striker, a wide role may represent the best route into the team for him.

Considering this, Mohammed Kudus’ return could give Tottenham a more natural presence on the opposite flank, potentially allowing Tel greater freedom to move inside and attack the penalty area from the left.

The youngster has already shown that he is capable of influencing major matches, but these moments have been too infrequent.

Tel could still receive opportunities through the middle, particularly from the bench against tiring defenders, even if a new striker initially moves ahead of him in the hierarchy.

However, another season spent on the fringes would raise serious questions about his long-term future at Tottenham.

Whether he begins the campaign centrally or from the left, 2026-27 is shaping up to be the year in which he either becomes a major part of De Zerbi’s plans or risks being left behind.