After two consecutive 17th-placed finishes in the Premier League, the pressure on Roberto De Zerbi to deliver the goods at Tottenham Hotspur this season was through the roof.
The Italian was handed over £300m worth of funds to improve the senior squad, which undoubtedly cranked up the pressure on the 47-year-old to lead the Lilywhites back up the table.
After a shaky start to the 2026/27 campaign, his side are starting to show signs of one which can certainly push for a place in the top eight come the end of May.
Saturday’s showing against bitter rivals Chelsea was one that the supporters will remember for many years, as two players managed to arguably produce their best displays since their big-money moves.
How Fernandes & Tonali led Spurs to victory against Chelsea
As part of the mega spending spree during the summer transfer window, midfielder Mateus Fernandes arrived from West Ham United for a fee rising to £85m.
He’s been a squad player during the opening months of the campaign, but was handed an opportunity to showcase his talents at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening.
The 22-year-old was dominant without the ball, subsequently making the most defensive contributions of any player on the pitch (14), which included five tackles and six ball recoveries.
Even with the ball, the Portuguese international set the tempo, as he registered the most touches of any player (124), subsequently completing 92% of his passes and creating two chances for his teammates.
Fernandes partnered Sandro Tonali at the heart of the midfield against the Blues, and he too managed to impress – proving why the board were right to splash out £100m on his services.
The Italian was a workhorse at the base of De Zerbi’s side, as he covered 11.7km during the 2-0 triumph – the most of any player on the pitch from either side.
Like Fernandes, he was extremely dominant without the ball, subsequently making four tackles and seven recoveries – helping the Lilywhites keep their third clean sheet of the campaign.
Why £15m Spurs flop should never play for the club again
After the aforementioned performances from the two big-money talents, it’s safe to say De Zerbi has found the midfield partnership to lead Spurs forward.
The Italian has utilised four partnerships at the base of the midfield since the start of the 2026/27 campaign, but Tonali and Fernandes have certainly been the most effective duo.
As a result, other players who are currently on the books may have to settle for a place on the bench in the future, which could see a number of players be pushed closer to the exit door in North London.
One player who certainly falls into that category is Pape Matar Sarr, who now looks as though he has zero future under the current manager at the Lilywhites.
The Senegalese international arrived from Metz for a fee in the region of £15m back in the summer of 2022 after spending a year back on loan at the French outfit.
He racked up 141 appearances throughout four seasons in the capital, but was shipped out on loan this summer after the overhaul completed by De Zerbi in the recent window.
Sarr joined Juventus on a season-long loan with an option to buy, but even if the Italian side refuse to take up a deal, the 24-year-old should have no future left at Spurs.
The performances of Fernandes and Tonali will have pushed him further down the manager’s thinking, and undoubtedly moved him closer to the exit door in the near future.
|
Pape Sarr – PL stats for Spurs |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Season |
Appearances |
Goals |
Assists |
|
2022/23 |
11 |
0 |
1 |
|
2023/24 |
34 |
3 |
3 |
|
2024/25 |
36 |
3 |
2 |
|
2025/26 |
26 |
2 |
4 |
|
2026/27 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
107 |
8 |
10 |
His stats from his current loan spell showcase his struggles in 2026/27, with the two big-money talents certainly in a different league of quality compared to Sarr.
The Senegalese man has only started two league games for the Old Lady, and only managed to complete an average of 0.3 successful dribbles per 90 this campaign.
Such numbers highlight his inability to progress the play from deep-lying positions – something which Fernandes and Tonali demonstrated in abundance against Chelsea this weekend.
Even without the ball, the youngster had struggled to emulate the impact of the aforementioned duo, as seen by his tally of just 4.1 defensive contributions per 90.
Both of the big-money stars are averaging over 10.3 per 90 in the Premier League this term, which showcases the manager made the right call in splashing the cash and replacing Sarr.
There’s no denying he was a player who was once a regular starter and an impressive option for the Lilywhites, but ultimately the club have surpassed his level in recent times.
If De Zerbi is to be a success and lead the club back to the top end of the table, the hierarchy need to be brutal with their decision-making, and offloading Sarr permanently is a call they now need to make.
