Tottenham Hotspur purchased Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich permanently this summer transfer window for a reason, and they did not even need to wait for Thomas Frank to replace Ange Postecoglou to decide on this transfer. Spurs upper management was already sold on Tel as a long term investment and a market opportunity they could not pass up on.
But despite showing pure quality and love for the club as he helped Spurs hoist the Europa League title down the stretch of the 2025/26 season, from the get go, new manager Frank made it clear that he wanted Tel to leap over a higher bar.
After snubbing Tel from the initial Champions League squad, Frank had no choice but to bring him back for this game against Slavia Praha on Tuesday night. And while Tel did not start in the 3-0 win or even score or assist, his approximately 30 minute cameo off the bench was enough to get Spurs fans to stir.
Mathys Tel is a cut above
Tel had two shots on target and a dribble completed in a solid, underrated performance. Beyond the stats, though, it was what Tel actually did with the ball that got everyone talking. His pace, acceleration, ball striking, strength, and shooting power are incredible to behold. He has more skill and athleticism in his smallest toe than a good portion of this Tottenham squad.
Whenever Tel is out there, he looks a cut above the rest and has the aura of a player destined for stardom, and every single Tottenham supporter - minus the few who are clueless and hate everybody to the point where you wonder why they are even football fans at all - wants to see more of him.
Thomas Frank is starting to come around on Tel, based on the fact that he has brought the Frenchman back into the Champions League fold. And Tel has come up big in games this season, too, such as with his decisive goals against Leeds United and Manchester United.
It does not come across on the stat sheet, but to Tottenham fans who watch the games, what Tel is doing is palpable and a sign of the upside that has to be harvested. And if Frank is half the coach that Tottenham have sold him to the fans as, then he had better find a way to get the most out of a player who glides like butter yet explodes past defenders with the spice of tabasco, and all the while shoots with cobra venom at keepers.