Tottenham Hotspur head coach Roberto De Zerbi has moved quickly to calm concerns surrounding Mateus Fernandes after confirming the midfielder’s absence against Sydney FC was purely precautionary rather than injury-related.
The summer signing missed Spurs’ 1-1 pre-season draw in Australia, sparking speculation that he had suffered a fresh setback during the club’s preparations for the 2026/27 campaign.
However, De Zerbi insists there is no serious issue, revealing that the club opted to manage the player’s workload instead of taking unnecessary risks.
Fernandes, who arrived in North London in an £85 million deal earlier this summer, has been one of Tottenham’s marquee additions as De Zerbi reshapes the squad ahead of his first full season in charge.
While supporters were concerned by his absence, the Italian manager delivered an encouraging update after the final whistle.
Speaking during his post-match press conference, De Zerbi explained that fatigue—not injury—was behind the decision.
“Fernandes is just fatigued, the calf, and also for him we took the decision not to take any risk and to recover,” said the Spurs’ boss.
The Spurs boss also confirmed that the midfielder is expected to resume full training once the squad returns to England.
“But the next week, Wednesday, when we start the pre-season in London, he will be ready to work.”
Tottenham’s medical and coaching staff appear determined to avoid unnecessary setbacks during a demanding pre-season schedule.
With several weeks still remaining before the Premier League campaign gets underway, De Zerbi has prioritized player fitness over short-term results, choosing to protect key members of his squad rather than push them through minor physical concerns.
Fernandes is now expected to sit out Tottenham’s upcoming friendly against Chelsea, giving him additional recovery time before the club begins the London phase of its preparations.
The cautious approach reflects De Zerbi’s wider strategy of ensuring his strongest squad is available when competitive football returns.
Fernandes arrived at Tottenham carrying significant expectations after the club invested heavily to secure his services.
The technically gifted midfielder is viewed as a central figure in De Zerbi’s long-term project, with his creativity, composure in possession and ability to progress play expected to strengthen Spurs’ midfield considerably.
Supporters have been eager to see the Portuguese talent settle into the manager’s possession-based system, and while his pre-season minutes have been temporarily delayed, there is growing confidence that his absence will prove only a minor interruption.
The latest update should reassure Tottenham fans that no long-term injury concerns have emerged.
After concluding the Australian leg of their pre-season tour, Tottenham will return to London where preparations will intensify ahead of the new campaign.
Training sessions are expected to become increasingly tactical as De Zerbi continues implementing his philosophy across the squad.
Fernandes’ expected return next Wednesday will give him valuable time to integrate fully with his teammates before competitive fixtures begin.
Although he is likely to miss the weekend clash with Chelsea, the midfielder remains on course to feature prominently during the remainder of pre-season.
De Zerbi’s latest update represents welcome news for Tottenham supporters, who have watched several Premier League clubs deal with early pre-season injuries.
Instead of managing a significant fitness concern, Spurs appear to have acted proactively by resting one of their most valuable summer acquisitions.
If Fernandes returns to training as scheduled next week, Tottenham will have avoided what initially threatened to become an early setback.
For De Zerbi, preserving the fitness of his key players remains just as important as building momentum through results, and the latest update suggests Spurs are successfully balancing both objectives as preparations for the new season continue.
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