For the first time in a while, there are signs of a plan at Tottenham Hotspur, with Roberto De Zerbi’s side putting in a much-improved performance in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion.
There was an energy and freshness to the performance that weekend, very different from what we have seen in recent times, and the reintroduction of Xavi Simons brought some much-needed spark to the left flank.
However, the anonymous appearance of Randal Kolo Muani on the right highlighted that De Zerbi still has a lot of work to do to truly stabilize this sinking ship, with the Frenchman making just 19 touches in his lackluster 57-minute appearance.
Kolo Muani under the command of De Zerbi | ||
|---|---|---|
sunderland | status | brighton |
90 | minutes | 57 |
38 | touch | 19 |
0 | shot | 1 |
2 | key pass | 0 |
59% | Pass rate | 89% |
1/5 | dribble | 1/1 |
1/2 | cross | 0 |
18 | ball lost | 4 |
3/11 | Total number of duels won | 2/6 |
The on-loan striker, who is still clinging to his only league goal of the season, has to say it was a disappointing signing as the new Spurs manager will need to find an alternative solution up front next time.
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After a number of cuts and substitutions under Igor Tudor, there is a more consistent feel under De Zerbi, with the backline now almost picking itself up even if Kevin Danso endured a lapse in concentration at the weekend.
With the return of James Maddison and Rodrygo Bentancur, there are plenty of options in midfield, and Simmons’ impactful play on the left showed why it could be the Dutchman’s future permanent home.
Starting No. 9 Dominic Solanke, who has scored just 12 goals in league games since the start of last season, is expected to do even better, but there is no doubt that De Zerbi is worried about his position on the right side.
It’s been an unlucky season in terms of injuries for N17, with Dejan Kulusevski out since May, Mohamed Kudus enduring a delayed recovery and Wilson Odbert out for an extended period with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, but the side have also been particularly unlucky.
With last season’s leading scorer Brennan Johnson also released in January, there is no obvious or standout candidate on the right side, and much of the Spurs’ best work on Saturday came from Simmons’ left side.
Kolo Muani, who is set to return to Paris Saint-Germain this summer, was swiftly sent off after taking just a few shots and failing to complete a single important pass or cross, once again highlighting why he will not be considered for a permanent stay at the end of the season.
Trying out a centre-forward in this wide-ranging role is not working at the moment and De Zerbi is sure to need to make a change.
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On the final day of Tudor’s time as manager, the Croatian tried his hand at experimenting with both Pedro Polo and Jed Spence on the right flank, but neither player could definitively find the answer to De Zerbi’s more attack-oriented, high-pressing approach.
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The former Marseille manager had been looking for a replacement for Kolo Muani from the start, but could instead turn to £30m player Matthijs Tell, who was replaced at the weekend. The Frenchman came off the bench in both of the last two matches.
Now fit and active again after suffering an injury during the international break, Tell could be the solution De Zerbi is looking for to complete his attacking trio.
The 20-year-old, previously hailed by analyst and Como scout Ben Mattinson as “(Kylian) Mbappé 2.0”, or Spurs’ “version” of Real Madrid’s star player, was unable to really fulfill his sky-high potential for long and was often seen in and out of the starting line-up.
The former Bayern Munich star started just nine games in the Premier League in 2025/26, scoring at least three goals in that time and was featured in Tudor’s recent victory over Atletico Madrid.
That night, Tell, who was part of a front three that also included Simmons and Kolo Muani, drifted down the right flank to put his compatriots in front for the opener, supplying a wonderful dimpled cross into the penalty area.
This magical moment highlighted what the youngster can offer as a right-winger and mirrored the aforementioned Mbappe in that he can operate across the front line if needed.
Boasting incredible speed and dribbling prowess (he has averaged 1.2 successful dribbles per game this season), the former Rennes wonder could be the difference-maker De Zerbi is looking for.
In fact, the Italian previously revealed that he tried to sign the young marksman when he was manager at the Stade Velodrome.
The 46-year-old is clearly a fan and now is the time to call Tell into action, ending this flawed Kolo Muani experiment and putting the final nail in the coffin for the striker’s memorable loan spell in north London.
De Zerbi could bench Gallagher in Spurs’ Gazza-Hoddle hybrid starting lineup
You can’t fault his work rate, but there was still a lack of quality in Tottenham’s Conor Gallagher on Saturday.
