(Credit: Imago)

Evan Shaw

Sun 26 April 2026 9:15, UK

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi should be left in no doubt that he must start Mathys Tel on the wing for their clash against Aston Villa next weekend.

The Frenchman was introduced at half-time of the Lilywhites’ vital 1-0 win away at Wolves on Saturday, as Joao Palhinha’s late strike ensured they earned their first Premier League win of 2026.

The North Londoners remain two points adrift of safety after West Ham’s stoppage-time winner against Everton, but there is now renewed hope that a great escape could yet be possible in the coming weeks.

However, if that is to happen, then De Zerbi will surely need to get his attack creating as much as possible in the final few games, and Tel will be central to that.

The Match of the Day team raved about the youngster in their analysis of Tottenham’s win over Wolves on Friday night, and that should tell his manager everything he needs to know moving forward.

Mathys Tel changed the game vs Wolves

Tel became a key player under Igor Tudor, but he is still waiting for his first start of De Zerbi’s reign, although it is now clear that it should come next weekend at Villa Park.

The 20-year-old was instrumental for Spurs when he entered the fray at Molineux on Saturday, as he completed three successful dribbles and won eight duels during his 45 minutes on the pitch.

The former Bayern Munich man acted as a driving force to help his team eventually find the all-important winning goal in the second period, and the Match of the Day team were left baffled as to why he hadn’t started the game.

Former Manchester City Women star Steph Houghton suggested that the wideman “creates carnage” during his analysis of the game, and made it clear that she felt he should have started over Randal Kolo Muani.

The 38-year-old also praised the way that Tel “mixed up his game,” and that unpredictability should be something that De Zerbi looks to harness in the coming weeks.

The starlet boasts some of the best attacking stats per 90 of anyone in the Tottenham squad, and his desire to get on the ball, keep opponents guessing and make things happen should have him down as one of the first names on the teamsheet until the end of the season.

Tel’s competition to drastically reduce at Tottenham next season

Tel faced his fair share of criticism from Tottenham supporters in the first half of the season, but he has slowly proven the impact that he can have on the team in the second half of the campaign.

Football Insider revealed on Saturday that Kolo Muani will not join Tottenham permanently upon the conclusion of his loan spell, and that will be music to the ears of Tel.

The starlet has often played second fiddle to Kolo Muani for little reason this term, with his teammate’s reputation in the game perhaps handing him the edge in the eyes of certain managers.

However, with his departure now imminent, the door looks set to be open for Tel to establish himself as one of the key players in the team next term.

That may depend on the outcome of Tottenham’s relegation battle in the coming weeks, as Tel himself would surely look to depart if the team suffered the drop.