Roberto De Zerbi has been clear with both of Tottenham’s big-money midfield signings about what he expects from them.
Of the six signings that Tottenham have made this summer, the bulk of the cost was on Fernandes and Tonali, with Spurs breaking their transfer record on the two players just days apart.
Having cost a combined £185m, there is big expectation on the pair to deliver, and both players have already shown glimpses of their quality in pre-season.
According to reports, many at Spurs are very excited about Fernandes, in particular, and believe the 22-year-old can evolve into one of the best in the world in his position.
Sandro Tonali already has a good understanding with new Tottenham teammate Matues Fernandes
Tonali revealed that De Zerbi has been insistent to both players that they have to develop a strong relationship on the pitch, and the former Newcastle man believes that it is already happening
He explained that since he and the 22-year-old both played in a two-man midfield at their previous clubs, they have been able to understand more easily what the Tottenham boss expects from them in different phases of play.
When asked what De Zerbi has said to him and the club’s other big midfield signing, Tonali told Football.London: “He wants our relationship to be 100 per cent, especially on the pitch, because off the pitch, our relationship is already top. We have to keep our football, our work on the pitch, because it’s tough. We played in two different teams last season, two different shapes, two different football [styles]. Now we are together, and we have to find our shape, our football.
“Sometimes it’s not easy. Maybe you need two or three weeks, but after four or five days, me and Mateus, I said to him, and he said to me ‘it’s not really difficult, this football, because we know the rules about this shape’.
“We played in the past with two midfielders, and if you play like that, you already know everything. You know the offensive phase, the defensive phase, and it’s a little easier. You need less time and less weeks, so we are a little lucky because we played in this shape in the past.
“We have to keep working together because when we start the Premier League, it will be different, playing against great teams. We play against Chelsea [on Saturday] but pre-season is not Premier League. We have to work every week to be ready for the first game.”
Tonali admits Fernandes is more suited to number six role
Both players have featured as a six and an eight at previous clubs, but Tonali has now admitted that the Portuguese midfielder may be suited to a deeper role.
However, the Italy international indicated that the two players will both start the season as part of a double-pivot.
When asked who will play deeper between the two, the 26-year-old said: “I don’t know, we don’t decide already, but I think him. For me, I played at number six last season, but for him, I think his characteristics are more number six than eight, but we want to start together at six.”