'Strange' Tottenham forward struggling to replicate international form under Thomas Frank

Originally posted on To The Lane And Back
By Aaryan Choksi | Last updated Sep 30, 2025 9:20 AM ET

Thomas Frank needs to find a way to get the best out of Tottenham Hotspur forward Mathys Tel

Tottenham forward Mathys Tel is enduring a difficult spell at N17 this season. The France U-21 international looks like a shadow of himself at club level under Thomas Frank, raising doubts among fans about the decision to sign him permanently in the summer. Spurs were clearly eager to secure his services, fearing they might miss out on a top young talent if they delayed the move – but his early struggles have already sparked debate.

Tel’s lack of confidence was evident in his performance against Doncaster Rovers last week. The 20-year-old had the perfect chance to make a statement and strengthen his case for a regular starting role at Tottenham, but instead, he wasted key opportunities, further highlighting his dip in form on the big stage.

Sa for, the Frenchman has started only two games this season, accumulating just 104 minutes in the Premier League. Those numbers are concerning, especially for a player signed with such high expectations. His exclusion from the Champions League squad is another clear sign that Thomas Frank does not yet fully trust him.

Mathys Tel backed to find himself at Tottenham this season

Questions continue to grow over Tel’s sudden decline at Tottenham. He has struggled to establish himself at N17, and with patience wearing thin among supporters, the pressure is mounting. Tel has also failed to convince Frank that he deserves a consistent starting spot, which in turn has visibly impacted his confidence.

Despite this, John Wenham has offered words of encouragement for the youngster. Speaking to Tottenham News, Wenham said,

“What I find strange about that is that it’s only not going for him in the Tottenham shirt. In this interim period, and going off for France Under-21s, he’s been playing one really well, and two were fantastic goals. So, it’s just something about the Spurs shirt at the moment that he’s struggling with.”

The Lilywhite Rose owner added,

“But hopefully at some point his opportunity will come again, and he takes that chance because he will be disappointed with his own performance against Doncaster, not grabbing one, if not two goals, for a player of his obvious ability.”

John Wenham cannot understand the contrast between Mathys Tel’s performances for club and country. The Lilywhite Rose owner has hinted that the Spurs shirt might be too big for the youngster, adding that Tel needs to take his time at N17. Wenham also believes that the 20-year-old might be unhappy with his own performance against Doncaster Rovers, and he would be willing to make things right quickly.

During the latest international break, he managed to score a brace for the France U-21 team against Serbia, underlining the talent that made Tottenham invest in him. Now, the challenge for Tel is to replicate that form in North London. At just 20, he still has time on his side, but he must step up quickly if he wants to secure a place in Thomas Frank’s plans and prove that he can thrive in a Spurs shirt.

This article first appeared on To The Lane And Back and was syndicated with permission.

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