Tottenham Hotspur may have stumbled through their opening three Premier League fixtures, yet new signing Matheus Fernandes remains convinced he has joined a side poised to contend for silverware. The 22‑year‑old Portuguese midfielder arrived from West Ham United for a reported £85 million fee, a sum that attracted interest from several elite clubs, including Manchester United, who ultimately could not match Tottenham's offer.
Fernandes says the decisive factor in his decision was the rapport he built with head coach Roberto De Zerbi, whose vision and personality convinced the young player that north London was the right destination for his next chapter. In a pre‑match interview with Sky Sports ahead of the Saturday Night Football showdown against Everton, Fernandes explained, "I spoke with the manager and he was the key to this decision. You can feel his energy and passion for the game when you talk to him.
He even took the time to speak with my parents, reassuring them that they could trust him with my development. He is a top‑class manager, both on and off the pitch, and I am thrilled to work under him." The midfielder’s comments underscore how De Zerbi’s personal approach—engaging not just with the player but also with his family—helped seal the transfer. Fernandes recalled the moment he formally committed to Tottenham during pre‑season, saying, "On the first day of training I met the manager and he was genuinely delighted to have me.
I told him straight away that one of the biggest reasons I chose Spurs was because of him. His footballing philosophy resonated with me from the start." The Italian coach’s tactical blueprint, which emphasizes fluid possession and intelligent movement, appealed to Fernandes’s own style as a central midfielder. "The way he wants his team to play suits me perfectly," the Portuguese added, highlighting how De Zerbi’s system aligns with his strengths in ball distribution and transitional play. Beyond the manager’s charisma, Fernandes believes the overall quality of Tottenham’s squad will elevate his own performances.
Reflecting on his final season with West Ham—where he contributed three goals and four assists—he said, "I know I can become a better player here. The squad is full of experienced, high‑calibre individuals. When you train and play alongside better players, you naturally raise your own level.
I’m confident I can improve dramatically this season." This optimism comes despite the Spurs’ early‑season struggles, which have yielded just a single point from three matches and attracted a wave of criticism from fans and pundits alike. Undeterred, Fernandes remains steadfast in his belief that the team will soon reverse its fortunes. "Winning makes you feel on top of the world; losing can feel devastating," he observed. "But we must stay focused on our own progress.
If you trust the club and the manager, you understand that it takes time to learn the tactical nuances and timing. Once everything clicks, success will start to flow, like ketchup spilling from a bottle." Fernandes’s career in English football has been a roller‑coaster, having experienced relegation with both Southampton and West Ham.
This time, however, he is determined to rewrite that narrative at Tottenham. "One of the main reasons I came here is to win trophies," he declared. "We want to win matches, we want to fight for titles, and with the quality we have in this squad, it’s natural to aim high. We haven’t secured a win in the last three games, so we need to stay calm, be patient, and trust the process.
Once we get that first victory, the momentum will build, just like ketchup – once it starts flowing, it’s hard to stop it." The midfielder’s confidence extends to the broader club community. He believes that the combination of De Zerbi’s leadership, the depth of the playing roster, and the supporters’ passion will create an environment where success is achievable. "When you have a manager who believes in you, teammates who push you every day, and fans who back you, the whole package becomes a winning formula," Fernandes said.
As Tottenham prepares to face Everton at home, all eyes will be on whether the team can translate Fernandes’s enthusiasm into a tangible result. The match offers a chance for the new signing to showcase his abilities and for the squad to begin shedding the early‑season doubts that have lingered. If the Spurs can secure a win, it may indeed be the catalyst that sets off a chain reaction of positive performances, validating Fernandes’s belief that the club’s future is bright under De Zerbi’s guidance.
In summary, Matheus Fernandes’s move to Tottenham was heavily influenced by his interactions with Roberto De Zerbi, whose personal touch and footballing philosophy aligned perfectly with the midfielder’s ambitions. While the team’s start to the Premier League campaign has been rocky, Fernandes is confident that the quality within the squad, combined with the manager’s vision, will soon propel Spurs back into contention for trophies. The upcoming fixture against Everton will be a crucial test of this optimism, offering a potential turning point for both the player and the club.