Tottenham Hotspur may have stumbled through the opening trio of Premier League fixtures this campaign, yet new signing Matheus Fernandes is convinced he has become part of a side that will soon be contesting for major trophies. The 22‑year‑old Portuguese midfielder arrived in north London for a reported £85 million after an impressive season with West Ham United, a performance that attracted interest from several top clubs, including a bid from Manchester United that ultimately fell short of Tottenham's valuation. What ultimately tipped the scales for Fernandes was not the financial package or the allure of playing in a historically significant club, but a series of personal conversations with the Spurs head coach, Roberto De Zerbi. In an interview with Sky Sports ahead of the Saturday Night Football encounter with Everton, Fernandes explained that the manager’s involvement was the decisive factor in his decision to join the club.
"I spoke with the Mister and he was the key for this decision," Fernandes said. "You can feel when you speak with him, the energy, the passion about football.
He spoke with me, he spoke with my dad, he spoke with my mum. So it was not just about me, it was about the people around me. He said to my dad, 'we'll take care' of me.
He's a top manager. You can feel it on the pitch, off the pitch as well.
And I'm very happy to work with him." Fernandes’ admiration for De Zerbi was evident the moment the transfer was completed. He recounted his first day of pre‑season training, describing the warm reception he received from the manager.
"The first day of the pre‑season, I met him and he was very happy. I was very happy as well for playing for him.
I said, 'Look, I chose Tottenham because one of the biggest parts was you.'" The Portuguese midfielder made it clear that De Zerbi’s reputation and personal approach were as important to him as the club’s stature. Beyond the personal connection, Fernandes also praised De Zerbi’s footballing philosophy. The Italian coach’s emphasis on possession, fluid movement and tactical intelligence resonated with the midfielder’s own style of play.
"For me as a midfielder, I like it so much," Fernandes added, highlighting how the tactical system aligns with his strengths. Fernandes believes that surrounding himself with a squad of higher calibre will naturally elevate his own performances.
He reflected on his final season with West Ham, where he contributed three goals and four assists in the Premier League, and expressed confidence that Tottenham’s roster will push him to new heights. "I believe that I can be a much better player than I was last season," he asserted. "If you look at the squad, it's a big team with big players, important players, players with experience, players with a lot of quality. So, when you play with better players, I think you play better.
So, I believe that I can be much better." Despite the optimism, Tottenham’s start to the season has been underwhelming, with the team collecting only a single point from their first three matches. Nevertheless, Fernandes remains steadfast in his belief that the club will soon reverse its fortunes and silence its critics. "I know what it's like: when you win, you are the best.
When you lose, you are the worst," he observed. "We just focus on us.
If you believe in the club, if you believe in the manager, you know that you need to take some time to learn the timings, everything tactical, and when you arrive there, it's like ketchup. It starts spilling." Fernandes’ journey in English football has been a roller‑coaster. His first two seasons in the Premier League ended in relegation—first with Southampton and then with West Ham. This history fuels his determination to finally achieve success with Tottenham.
"This is one of the reasons that I came here, to play for winning something," he explained. "We want to win the games, we want to fight for the titles and, with this squad, it's normal that we want to fight for the titles. Now, we didn't win the last three games, so things need to calm.
We need to take time. And then, like I said, it's like ketchup, when you win one game, it's going to be more easy." Fernandes, his teammates, and the Spurs faithful will be hoping that the upcoming fixture against Everton marks the turning point they have been yearning for. The match, broadcast live on Sky Sports Premier League, offers the first real test of whether the blend of De Zerbi’s tactical blueprint and the talent within the squad can translate into tangible results.
As the season progresses, Fernandes’ confidence in De Zerbi’s leadership and his belief in the collective quality of the Tottenham group suggest that, despite a rocky start, the club could soon become a genuine contender for domestic and European honours. The next few weeks will be crucial in determining whether the promise spoken of in pre‑season can be realized on the pitch, and whether the Portuguese midfielder’s faith in his new environment will be rewarded with the trophies he so ardently desires.