Tottenham Hotspur may have stumbled through their opening trio of Premier League fixtures, yet new signing Matheus Fernandes remains convinced he has become part of a side that will soon be contesting 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 top clubs, including Manchester United. United were reportedly eager to sign him but could not match Spurs’ valuation, leaving Fernandes to weigh his options. What ultimately tipped the balance for Fernandes was his dialogue with Tottenham’s head coach, Roberto De Zerbi.
In a pre‑match interview with Sky Sports ahead of the Saturday Night Football clash against Everton, Fernandes explained that his conversation with the manager 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 told the broadcaster.
"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 him.’" He went on to describe De Zerbi as a top‑class manager whose influence extends beyond the tactical board. "You can feel it on the pitch, off the pitch as well.
I’m very happy to work with him," the midfielder added. Fernandes’ admiration for De Zerbi was evident the moment the transfer was completed. He recounted the first day of pre‑season, when he met the coach and expressed his gratitude.
"The first day of 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.’" He stressed that the manager’s reputation for articulate communication was matched by his footballing philosophy, which resonated with the midfielder’s own preferences. "For me as a midfielder, I like his style a lot," Fernandes said, highlighting how De Zerbi’s emphasis on possession, fluid transitions, and intelligent positioning aligns with his own skill set.
The Portuguese believes that the tactical framework at Tottenham will allow him to flourish and develop further. Beyond the managerial appeal, Fernandes is confident that the overall quality of the Spurs squad will elevate his own performances. He reflected on his final season at West Ham, where he contributed three goals and four assists in the Premier League, and suggested that playing alongside more experienced and technically gifted teammates 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, Spurs have struggled to translate potential into points, having collected just a single draw from their first three matches.
Nevertheless, Fernandes remains undeterred and insists that the team’s belief in the project will eventually bear fruit. "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’ career in English football has been a roller‑coaster, with relegations suffered at Southampton and later West Ham. Those experiences have left him hungry for a different outcome, and he is determined to help Tottenham achieve success. "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." He acknowledged the early‑season setbacks but remained confident that the team will find its rhythm. "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 easier," Fernandes said, using the metaphor to illustrate how momentum can build once a breakthrough is achieved.
Looking ahead, the midfielder, his teammates, and the Tottenham faithful will be hoping that the upcoming fixture against Everton marks the start of a turning point. A victory could ignite the “ketchup” effect Fernandes described, allowing the club to climb out of the early‑season slump and begin a genuine challenge for domestic trophies. Fans can tune in to watch Tottenham versus Everton live on Sky Sports Premier League, with kickoff scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The match will provide a crucial early test of whether the optimism expressed by Fernandes and De Zerbi can translate into tangible results on the field.