Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi praised the performance of midfielder Mateus Fernandes following the team’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, marking what De Zerbi described as a significant step in Fernandes’s development at the club.
Fernandes, 22, joined Spurs from West Ham in July for a then club-record fee of £85 million. Despite the substantial investment, Fernandes had yet to fully establish himself in the Tottenham lineup and faced scrutiny following a series of inconsistent performances. The Portuguese midfielder, who has primarily played at the Under-21 international level and was not selected for Portugal’s recent World Cup squad, had also endured consecutive relegations with Southampton and West Ham in prior seasons.
Ahead of the match against Chelsea, De Zerbi acknowledged Fernandes’s need to acclimate to Spurs’ environment and higher ambitions. “He has to stay with a calm head, have confidence and enjoy himself on the pitch,” De Zerbi said. “He will be one of the most important players of Tottenham for the future. For the present and the future.”
Fernandes’s recent form had come under scrutiny after he was substituted at halftime during a 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa last month. At that time, De Zerbi expressed confidence in the player despite dissatisfaction with his performance.
The Chelsea fixture saw Fernandes reinstated in a deeper central midfield role after missing some training due to the birth of his child. Although his start was shaky—losing possession early and conceding a chance—Fernandes quickly regained composure and played a key role alongside Sandro Tonali, who also earned high praise from the manager for what De Zerbi described as his best game since joining from Newcastle for £100 million. The pair effectively controlled the midfield against Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo and Jordan Henderson, contributing to Tottenham’s improved performance.
The match’s intensity peaked in the 72nd minute when Fernandes was involved in a physical confrontation with Chelsea’s Cole Palmer. Fernandes committed a deliberate handball to stop a promising attack, drawing a yellow card, after which Palmer retaliated and also received a booking. The incident escalated to a second yellow for Palmer later in the game, shortly after Spurs took the lead. De Zerbi said he appreciated the competitive spirit shown, emphasizing the importance of personality and resilience on the field.
“Mateus played 90 minutes with big, big quality,” De Zerbi said. “I want to see him enjoy it with the ball. Even if he makes a mistake, it doesn’t matter. It’s not a problem. But I want to see personality from my team.”
The victory lifted Tottenham from a difficult start to the Premier League season, signaling growing confidence within the squad. De Zerbi highlighted the contributions of other key players, including captain Micky van de Ven and wingers Mo Kudus and Mathys Tel, who influenced the outcome with decisive plays.
As Spurs aim to improve their standing in England’s top flight, Fernandes’s emergence as a central figure provides a promising boost for the club’s aspirations this season.