De Zerbi Favourite Faces Chop If Tottenham Are To Turn Season Around

· GiveMeSport

Spurs boss has a big decision to make

Tottenham will return to action after the extended three-week international break with a trip to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United.

It will be a match-up of two managers under pressure so early in the season, with Roberto De Zerbi and Michael Carrick so far underwhelming in the dugout after recent permanent appointments at their respective clubs.

Spurs are rock bottom of the Premier League table, with just two points to their name from their opening five encounters. Manchester United are not too much better off, with five points on the board.

Despite the early stage of the season, it could be a defining match. And as a result, De Zerbi will have some key decisions to make when it comes to his starting lineup.

The Italian has used 23 players so far this season, as he beds in new players alongside those he inherited when he arrived at the club at the end of March and experiments with different personnel partnerships.

Seven players have played a part in every Premier League game thus far and one of those may have to be sacrificed if Spurs are to kick on and make progress and move off the bottom of the table as the weeks go on.

Rodrigo Bentancur has started all four of the games since the 3-0 defeat to Brentford on the opening day of the season, having come off the substitutes' bench at half-time of that dismal encounter.

He is one of De Zerbi's trusted lieutenants in the middle of the park by the looks of things, sitting alongside £100million man Sandro Tonali in a double pivot.

Mateus Fernandes, another big-money new signing, has also played a part in every single Premier League game, but has had to be versatile when coming on, slotting into the No.10 position on occasion, rather than in the eight or six.

Tottenham spent massive money on restructuring their midfield this summer, with Tonali and Fernandes expected to be the two chosen to play in the six and eight roles, given the huge outlay on them and the faith the club have shown in them.

Fernandes has shown glimpses of his quality, but he has so far been unable to settle into a rhythm in one position, being shuffled about as De Zerbi has tried new things.

Playing alongside Tonali more often will only lead to a better understanding of one another and build a partnership. The movement in position has often been down to Spurs' lack of options in the No.10 role, with James Maddison slowly returning from injury and Dejan Kulusevski not back in action yet.

De Zerbi has referenced that Mohammed Kudus, also just returning from injury, can play in the 10, while Omar Marmoush is more than capable of playing there too. Kulusevski is finally back in training with the first team and could make his long-awaited return soon.

With more options in the creative role, De Zerbi could finally push Fernandes back alongside Tonali, with the two new signings yet to start together.

It would be harsh on Bentancur, who, while he does split opinion in the fanbase, can be the perfect ball carrier in a De Zerbi side. But Tottenham must look to the future and the work they did in the transfer window and giving Tonali and Fernandes the opportunity to play alongside one another for the long-term could lead to success.

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