Tottenham Hotspur were ruthless against Charlton Athletic in round two of their Carabao Cup outing, beating the Championship side 5-1 and booking their spot in the next round of the competition.
Let us take a look at five things we learned from the match:
Savio makes impressive Tottenham debut
While many fans would have been focused on seeing their side make a marked improvement on last weekend’s outing against Brentford, where Tottenham were well beaten 3-0, there is no denying that many supporters would also have had their eyes on new signing Savio.
The Brazilian international joined from Manchester City earlier this week, completing a big-money £85 million move to north London.
He was eventually named on the bench in this encounter as De Zerbi looked to get the 22-year-old up to speed ahead of what is sure to be a daunting campaign.
However, it did not take long for Savio to make his Tottenham debut, with the former City man coming on in the 71st minute.
And he did not disappoint following his introduction, with Savio looking very sharp and direct out on the right for Spurs.
He managed a debut goal after beating the Charlton goalkeeper at his near post and could well have had a second as he repeated a similar move and finish, but the goal was credited to Ben Davies, who managed a touch before it went in.
As debuts go, it does not get better than that, and the expectation will be for the big-money signing to carry the momentum into this weekend’s clash against Newcastle.
De Zerbi challenged Savio before tonight’s game to reach 15-20 goals. Well, it is one down, 19 to go.
Tottenham progress into round three of the Carabao Cup
De Zerbi made it clear that he wanted a win tonight ahead of the round two encounter with Charlton Athletic, after calling for a change in mentality at Spurs.
His team selection certainly matched his intention, with the Italian not making that many changes to the side that started last weekend.
The reaction he wanted was exactly what he got, with his team going for a win right from the start of the game until the very end.
With a 5-1 victory, Spurs have now booked their spot in the next round, and De Zerbi will certainly be hoping his side can make a deep run in the Carabao Cup, given their lack of involvement in Europe this season.
Mateus Fernandes impresses for Tottenham
While most of the spotlight will be on Savio, another big-money signing had a stellar display for Tottenham, and that is Mateus Fernandes.
The midfielder was superb in the centre of the park, completely bossing the midfield. He also showcased his tactical intelligence, operating as a deep‑lying playmaker throughout the match.
Fernandes showed real class in the role, acting as the crucial link between midfield and attack and consistently combining well with those around him.
He displayed an impressive passing range, switching play with several long balls and staying positive in possession by looking for forward options.
His efforts were rewarded when he delivered a dangerous free‑kick into the Charlton box, resulting in an assist. It is looking like another £85 million well spent by Spurs.
Fernandes was arguably Tottenham’s best player against Brentford, and after tonight’s performance, he is surely pushing for a start this weekend.
Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro return for Spurs
Another positive for Tottenham would be the return of two of their captains, as Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro managed their first appearances of the season.
The two came off the bench in the second half and barely even looked rusty following their introduction.
In fact, Porro, fresh off his World Cup-winning campaign, already looks to be forming a relationship with Savio on the right, with the pair linking up well on several occasions.
Porro and van de Ven should not be far away from a start and, the moment they return, De Zerbi will finally be able to name his strongest XI, which would be a big boost for Tottenham.
Dominic Solanke gets back among the goals
Dominic Solanke certainly needs to up his levels at Tottenham if he is to retain his spot as the club’s main striker. That starting position is set to come under further threat as Spurs are closing in on a deal for Omar Marmoush.
There is every reason to believe that, should the Egyptian join, Solanke’s minutes will be significantly reduced.
Of course, Marmoush can be deployed behind the Englishman as a second striker, especially with head coach De Zerbi having made it clear that Solanke remains central to his plan.
The Italian also posed a challenge for the Englishman following his poor cameo off the bench against Brentford.
He certainly has responded to the manager’s criticism with a well-taken goal, his first of the campaign. However, there remains room for improvement, as Solanke often still went long periods without being involved in the game.