Mathys Tel delivers perfect response to Champions League snub

Considering all that's gone on over the past week in N17, it feels like Mathys Tel shouldn't be at the forefront of my thinking.

Daniel Levy this, Daniel Levy that. Who cares? Tel is scoring bangers over the September international break, soon after Thomas Frank opted to leave him out of his Champions League squad for the league phase.

Ultimately, poor squad planning and the Frenchman's tough start to 2025/26 forced Frank to overlook the 20-year-old, who joined the club permanently in the summer after spending the second half of last season on loan.

Once regarded as a potentially generation-defining talent, the very best of Tel has appeared like a flash of lightning in Lilywhite colours. As a result, many have been quick to write the young Frenchman off, and Frank's recent squad decision was seen as vindication for their lack of faith.

However, I am ever so confident that the former Rennes starlet is going to prove a lot of people wrong. Why? The kid's a mentality monster.

Mathys Tel sends Thomas Frank perfect message over international break

Tel, three years on from his move to Bayern Munich, is still yet to earn his first call-up to the French national team. The stiff competition, similar to what he encountered in Bavaria, has so far been his undoing.

Nevertheless, the 20-year-old continues to star for an uber talented U21s side, which also contains Wilson Odobert. Tel played a key role in France's journey to the semi-finals at this summer's Euros, and he's been at it again during the September break.

Ahead of Monday's friendly with Serbia, the forward spoke about his Champions League snub, displaying the maturity of a kid who knows he has plenty to prove.

“It definitely hurts," he said (via Le Telegramme). "But I’m someone who stays pretty positive, no matter the situation, because I think I’ve worked a lot on my mental side, so today it’s definitely a disappointment; I would have liked to be there."

Tel added that he "respects" Frank's decision, with the boss explaining his decision via a phone call before the squad list was made public.

The omission may well prove to be the making of the 20-year-old in north London, and Tel only has to look at Djed Spence's Europa League absence last season as proof that all is not lost.

In the aforementioned friendly against Serbia, Tel donned the armband and scored twice in a 3-0 French victory. His first goal was a stunner, accurately finding the top right corner with a left-footed strike from the edge of the area.

There's just far too much going for Tel for me not to believe he won't blossom into something special at this club. I just love his mentality, and he has the raw attributes of a star.

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