Tottenham Hotspur's new-look midfield, featuring summer signings Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, showed promising signs in their opening pre-season friendly, a 1-0 win against MK Dons on Wednesday.
The club record-breaking transfers, Tonali (£100 million from Newcastle) and Fernandes (£85 million from West Ham), featured for the first 45 minutes, a period during which they dictated play and provided a glimpse of their potential impact.
Mateus Fernandes opened the scoring in the third minute with a volley from outside the area after a corner was punched clear by MK Dons goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray. This early strike offered a demonstration of his ability, with teammates reacting with disbelief.
Fernandes was heavily involved in the first half, registering 81 touches, the most of any player. Playing as an 'eight', he was supported by Tonali, who operated as a 'six'. The pair, playing together for the first time, exhibited a notable synchronisation, anticipating each other's movements.
Tonali, who had 70 touches, was given more freedom to advance from his holding midfield position. Described as versatile with a strong engine and line-breaking passing range, he can play as either a six or an eight, allowing for fluid partnership with Fernandes.
The pair's availability for a full pre-season under manager Roberto De Zerbi, after Italy's World Cup qualification failure and Portugal's decision to overlook Fernandes, is seen as a significant advantage. This allows ample time to integrate them into the team's tactical framework.
Despite the positive showing, the article notes that the performance against League One opposition and in a limited sample size should be considered. The midfield will face a greater test against stronger opposition, particularly in pressing situations, a hallmark of De Zerbi's teams. There were also a couple of instances where possession was lost in dangerous areas, leading to counter-attack opportunities for MK Dons, though these were ultimately contained.
Tonali's contribution in transition was highlighted, including a pass that initiated an attacking move from deep midfield which ultimately did not result in a goal. The midfield signings are part of significant investment, with a total of £240 million spent on reinforcements this summer.