Jobi McAnuff praises Tonali and Matheus Fernandes’ understanding at Tottenham
BBC analyst and former Crystal Palace player Jobi McAnuff praised the growing understanding between Tottenham midfielders Sandro Tonali and Matheus Fernandes after the team’s win over Palace. He said Jean-Philippe Mateta’s early dismissal gave Tottenham a numerical advantage for more than an hour, but the midfield partnership also helped the team
BBC analyst and former Crystal Palace player Jobi McAnuff praised the growing understanding between Tottenham midfielders Sandro Tonali and Matheus Fernandes after the team’s win over Palace. He said Jean-Philippe Mateta’s early dismissal gave Tottenham a numerical advantage for more than an hour, but the midfield partnership helped the team impose its tempo and control the middle of the pitch.
McAnuff said the relationship between Tonali and Fernandes was developing, and that it was one sign of improvement under Roberto De Zerbi in recent weeks, despite the match conditions being affected by Palace’s numerical disadvantage.
The report said the players joined Tottenham in the summer for a combined fee of around £200 million, and that the club broke its transfer record twice to complete the deals. After a period in which the players needed time to adapt to De Zerbi’s style, Tottenham recorded three consecutive wins and will hope their partnership continues to support the team’s improvement after its slow start to the season.