Gary Lineker shares his surprising thoughts on Mathys Tel after his first start and goal for Tottenham
Tottenham Hotspur’s difficult start to 2025 continued as they crashed out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa. With Richarlison sidelined due to injury, Ange Postecoglou handed new signing Mathys Tel his first start for the club, hoping to inject fresh energy into the side.
However, in a tactical surprise, Postecoglou opted to deploy Tel on the left flank, preferring to use Son Heung-min as the central striker. While Tel has experience playing out wide from his time at Bayern Munich, many expected his move to North London to mark the beginning of his development as a true number nine.
Regardless of the tactical setup, it has been a challenging first week for both Tel and fellow new signing Kevin Danso. Within just days of joining, they have experienced two defeats and seen Tottenham eliminated from both the FA Cup and EFL Cup. While they would have been well aware of the club’s situation before signing, their introduction to life at Spurs has been anything but smooth.
A Silver Lining: Tel Impresses on Debut
Despite the disappointment of another cup exit, Tel managed to provide a glimmer of hope for Spurs fans. The young Frenchman scored his first goal for the club deep into stoppage time, a well-taken finish that highlighted his intelligent movement inside the box.
The goal came courtesy of a pinpoint cross from Dejan Kulusevski, and Tel’s sharp anticipation allowed him to finish expertly past the Aston Villa goalkeeper. Although it ultimately proved to be only a consolation goal, it was a moment that could help boost the youngster’s confidence moving forward.
His performance did not go unnoticed. Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, pundits Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, and Micah Richards all praised Tel’s display and his instinctive finishing ability.
Lineker commented: “The other new man, I just want to mention—we’ve flipped back to Spurs briefly. I thought Tel showed a couple of nice bits. And that was an exquisite finish.”
Shearer added: “You don’t have to get to the byline all the time. You can put crosses in, and that was a great ball from Kulusevski. Tel did really well to get on the end of it, and it was a really clever finish. Hopefully, that’ll give him a bit of confidence and belief that he belongs here and can help Spurs through this period.”
Richards echoed their sentiments: “He’s got quality, hasn’t he? He’s still young, he’s still learning, but I agree with Alan. It was great movement and a great finish. He just needs confidence.”
Postecoglou Under Increasing Pressure
However, Tel’s positive moment did little to ease the growing frustration surrounding Tottenham. Another defeat has only added to the pressure on Postecoglou, with fans and pundits alike questioning the team’s trajectory under his leadership.
The Spurs boss came out strongly in defense of his squad after the loss, emphasizing the difficulties they have faced, particularly with injuries. He argued that his players have been “run into the ground” and need time to adapt and recover.
Yet, critics suggest he may be missing the broader point. Few are blaming individual players like Djed Spence or Archie Gray for the club’s struggles. Instead, frustration is being directed at Daniel Levy for what is perceived as a lack of ambition in the transfer market, and at Postecoglou himself for his unwillingness to adjust his tactical approach.
Former Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara has been particularly vocal, calling for Postecoglou to be sacked. While such a drastic move does not seem imminent, the Australian manager is undoubtedly under increasing scrutiny.
What Next for Spurs?
With cup competitions no longer an option, Tottenham’s only remaining focus is on improving their Premier League position. Currently languishing in 14th place, they are in desperate need of results to avoid slipping into further turmoil.
Tel’s debut goal was a rare bright spot in an otherwise bleak evening, and if he can build on that performance, he may yet become a key player for Spurs in the weeks ahead. However, unless results improve soon, Tottenham’s season could spiral further out of control, and Postecoglou’s future could become even more uncertain.
