Roberto De Zerbi hints he made a mistake with one Tottenham substitution vs Villa

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Roberto De Zerbi has admitted that a change he made negatively affected his Tottenham Hotspur side against Aston Villa.

Villa consigned Spurs to their third defeat of the campaign, with the Lilywhites now only having two points on the board from their first five Premier League fixtures.

While Tottenham did finally manage to get on the scoresheet, the two goals at the end were nothing more than consolation, with the game already lost.

The result serves as a bitter blow to De Zerbi’s side ahead of a prolonged international break, and the Italian admitted that he did not get his decisions right against Villa.

Roberto De Zerbi admits taking off Mateus Fernandes hurt Tottenham’s balance

The Spurs boss decided to start with Mateus Fernandes as the 10, in front of a double pivot of Sandro Tonali and Rodrigo Bentancur.

He then decided to take the Portuguese star off at the interval and bring on Mohammed Kudus, and De Zerbi confessed that the change affected his side’s balance in the middle of the park in the second half.

The 46-year-old said (via the club’s official website): “I had a doubt before the game yesterday between Kudus, Gallagher and Mateus Fernandes. Kudus starting in the first 11, maybe as a 10, especially as a 10. I thought he couldn’t have the intensity like Mateus or Gallagher.

“Between Mateus and Gallagher, I decided for Mateus to give more control, more technique on the midfield position. Mateus is younger. Kudus, when he played, I think we lost balance.”

Should De Zerbi end the Fernandes at 10 experiment?

Tottenham’s £85m midfield signing has not fared well in the advanced midfield role so far this season, and is yet to show the required creativity for that position.

Fernandes looks a lot more at home when he plays deeper in midfield, and De Zerbi may be better served playing him in the double pivot after the international break.

The return to fitness of James Maddison may force the Italian’s hand, with the 29-year-old now having three weeks to build up his fitness ahead of Tottenham’s trip to Old Trafford on October 10.

• READ MORE: Interesting reason Mathys Tel missed Tottenham vs Aston Villa revealed by De Zerbi