Tottenham Hotspur’s 5-1 Carabao Cup win over Charlton Athletic is still generating headlines three weeks on, and this update, published 18 September 2026, brings the story up to date with the latest word on Mateus Fernandes‘ fitness. Roberto De Zerbi’s post-match praise for the midfielder has aged well, with the club now managing his return to full match sharpness with care.
## Updated Carabao Cup Reaction: August 2026
Spurs eased into the third round with a comfortable 5-1 home victory over Charlton Athletic. Five different players got on the scoresheet, a sign of the squad depth De Zerbi has been building since the summer.
The night belonged just as much to two newcomers. Savio marked his debut with a goal and an assist in the second half, while Mateus Fernandes made his first competitive start for the club in midfield.
## De Zerbi Blown Away by Fernandes’ Full Debut
Speaking to Football London after the game, De Zerbi did not hold back when asked about his new midfielder. “Mateus Fernandes is another talent, big talent,” the head coach said, setting the tone for a glowing assessment.
De Zerbi went further, praising the qualities Fernandes showed in his 90 minutes on the pitch. “Anyway, he brings quality, he is dynamic and he fights on the pitch, because I think in the last season he was one of the best players in terms of regaining the ball, in the duel,” he told Football London.
That duel-winning trait matters to a manager who wants his midfield to win the ball back quickly. It is a specific, technical compliment, not a generic pat on the back for a new arrival.
## Tactical Versatility: Pivot or Number 10
Beyond the individual praise, De Zerbi pointed to something more valuable for his system: Fernandes’ ability to play in more than one role. “We are lucky because he can cover two positions on the pitch, like as a pivot or number 10,” he explained, again via Football London.
That flexibility gives De Zerbi a genuine selection option rather than a fixed slot to fill. A midfielder who can sit deep as a pivot or push forward as a number 10 lets the head coach adjust shape without changing personnel, something that showed up in his Carabao Cup selection choices later in the competition.
## What De Zerbi Tottenham Hotspur Comments Mean for Midfield Options
De Zerbi’s comments confirm that he now views Fernandes as a genuine two-role option in central midfield, not a squad player limited to cup football. The pivot-or-ten framing suggests Fernandes could rotate with, or partner, Tottenham’s existing midfielders depending on the opponent and game state.
That matters because it gives De Zerbi more room to rotate without diluting his principles. His public remarks on discipline and structure, laid out in coverage of De Zerbi’s tactical standards, show he values players who can hold a system rather than simply plug a gap.
The evidence so far is confined to one Carabao Cup start and one set of post-match remarks. There is no confirmation yet of how often Fernandes will start in the Premier League, and nothing here should be read as a guarantee of a fixed role.
## What Happens Next for Fernandes and Spurs
The clearest update to this story concerns fitness rather than tactics. Fernandes was not fit enough to play the full 90 minutes when Tottenham faced Brentford, a detail that tempers some of the excitement from his eye-catching Charlton debut.
It is a normal part of easing a new signing into English football, and it does not undercut De Zerbi’s assessment of his quality. It simply means supporters should expect managed minutes in the short term rather than an immediate, permanent starting berth.
How quickly Fernandes builds up his fitness will shape his role in the coming weeks, particularly as Tottenham continue the ongoing De Zerbi rebuild across the squad. For the fuller picture of that August night against Charlton, the original De Zerbi reaction coverage remains the fullest account of the manager’s post-match comments.
