Roberto De Zerbi has thrown his support behind Mathys Tel following the young forward's costly penalty concession in Tottenham's 1-1 draw with Leeds United. Despite an earlier moment of brilliance, the French striker's reckless overhead kick clearance inside his own box led to a spot-kick that denied Spurs a crucial three points in their battle for Premier League survival.
Tel had opened the scoring with an exceptional curling effort from 20 yards, seemingly putting Tottenham on course for a vital victory. The performance took a dramatic turn when he inexplicably attempted an overhead kick to clear possession in the penalty area, connecting with Leeds defender Ethan Ampadu in the process. A VAR review confirmed the contact warranted a penalty, which Dominic Calvert-Lewin duly converted to level the match.
Manager Shields Young Player from Criticism
Rather than join punditry voices in condemning the error, De Zerbi opted for a protective stance towards his player. When asked how he would address the incident, the Tottenham manager responded with measured compassion. "Nothing. He's young, he's a talent, I will kiss him and I will hug him and stop because he doesn't need too many words," De Zerbi explained. "He was sorry for it, but these things can happen for a young player in that situation."
Sky Sports analyst Jamie Carragher offered a starkly different assessment, criticizing Tel's decision-making. Carragher noted that the forward appeared to see Ampadu approaching before committing to the clearance, suggesting a lack of awareness rather than an unavoidable collision. The pundit called it a "really poor decision" from an attacking player who had already made questionable choices throughout the encounter.
Survival Hopes Remain Fragile
The dropped points leave Tottenham's Premier League status precarious with only two matches remaining. Spurs now hold a modest two-point advantage over West Ham as they prepare for a challenging fixture at Chelsea on May 19. The return of James Maddison from injury offers creative reinforcement, yet De Zerbi must urgently address the defensive lapses that have repeatedly undermined their survival bid this season. With the margin for error now razor-thin, consistency across the final fixtures will prove decisive in determining Tottenham's fate.
