Tottenham Hotspur wrapped up their pre-season tour of New Zealand and Australia with a dramatic 2-1 victory over London rivals Chelsea, thanks to a last-gasp goal from Richarlison at Accor Stadium. The win extended Spurs' unbeaten run this summer, despite playing much of the match with 10 men after Kevin Danso's early red card.
Kinsky Underlines No. 1 Credentials
Antonin Kinsky, handed the starting goalkeeper role after Guglielmo Vicario's departure, delivered an impressive performance against Chelsea. The Czech international made several crucial saves, including tipping Estevao's effort onto the crossbar, keeping Spurs in the match as Chelsea pressed for a second goal after the break.
Kinsky's displays at the end of last season were key to Spurs' Premier League survival, and he has taken confidence from De Zerbi's decision to promote him. While many senior players are still building fitness, Kinsky looks ready for the new campaign.
Defensive Unit Needs Time
Despite taking a 36-man squad on tour, De Zerbi had limited opportunities to field a settled starting XI, particularly in defense. With Djed Spence and Pedro Porro absent, several players were tried at right-back, while new signing Jan Paul van Hecke played just 46 minutes. Destiny Udogie didn't feature due to fitness issues, and Andy Robertson looked rusty on his first start. Micky van de Ven also missed minutes, leaving De Zerbi concerned about building a reliable defensive unit before the Premier League opener.
Tel Offers Attacking Solution
Spurs are still searching for attacking reinforcements, but Mathys Tel's tour performances have given De Zerbi food for thought. After a quiet season, Tel scored a superb free-kick against Sydney and impressed off the bench. De Zerbi, who tried to sign him at Marseille, sees potential in the Frenchman to increase his goal output if given more opportunities.
