Tottenham’s £85 million summer signing Mateus Fernandes has earned praise from Roberto De Zerbi after delivering a man-of-the-match performance in the 2-0 victory over Chelsea.

Mateus Fernandes delivered his best performance yet for Tottenham Hotspur in the clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, earning the man of the match award.

It was a deserved accolade, with Fernandes’ underlying numbers highlighting just how pivotal he was to Spurs’ setup.

The midfielder excelled both in and out of possession, dictating play with his passing and composure while showcasing his athleticism defensively, making the most contributions of any player on the pitch.

Roberto De Zerbi praises Tottenham’s Mateus Fernandes after Chelsea win

Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi was equally impressed by the 22-year-old’s display against Xabi Alonso’s side, admitting he was proud of the Portuguese midfielder and labelling him one of the best players on the pitch.

The Spurs boss has rarely turned to Fernandes this season, with the former West Ham man making just three Premier League starts before the Chelsea clash. But he chose the perfect moment to showcase his talent – something De Zerbi himself has acknowledged throughout the campaign.

Speaking to football.london when asked about the younger players, De Zerbi said: “Changing the spirit of the group, changing the performance of the players, especially the more fragile players, maybe the younger players.

“Mateus Fernandes maybe was one of the best players on the pitch like Mathys Tel. Archie Gray is younger, but he is older as a mentality. I am very, very happy.”

De Zerbi hails Fernandes’ composure in Palmer clash

Fernandes demonstrated his maturity not only on the ball but also off it during the game when he was violently barged into by Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer.

The Blues were attempting to counter, and Fernandes, having gone down, handled the ball to stop the break – earning a booking. Palmer reacted angrily, barging into Fernandes’ head and receiving a yellow card himself.

Fernandes could easily have reacted rashly but instead kept a level head, a response that drew further praise from De Zerbi.

The Spurs boss said: “I love watching my players fighting on the pitch. But Mateus Fernandes played 90 minutes with a big, big quality. I want to see Mateus Fernandes with personality. I want to see Fernandes enjoy with the ball. Even if he can make a mistake, it does not matter. It is not a problem, a mistake. But I want to see this personality from my team.

“We are a big club. In the last period the results have been not so good. But we are a top club in the Premier League. We must show personality. We must show mentality. We must show our qualities to the players. Otherwise we have to change.”