Tottenham star Mathys Tel gives brutally honest response after Champions League axe

Mathys Tel was the surprise name in the list of Tottenham players who did not make the club’s Champions League squad but the attacker has taken the disappointing news well

Mathys Tel admits he was “hurt” to discover he would not be included in Tottenham’s Champions League squad last week but is refusing to let it derail his focus as he bids to hit top form in a Spurs shirt.

Tel, 20, was informed by Thomas Frank that he was not apart of the 22-man squad for the Champions League along with the injured James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, plus Radu Dragusin, Kota Takai and Yves Bissouma. That’s despite the fact that the France Under-21 star only moved to north London permanently in a £30million deal earlier this summer after signing on loan last February.

The former Bayern Munich star’s omission was by far the most eye-catching given he arrived for a significant transfer fee in the summer as part of a squad shake-up following Frank’s arrival, though he has featured for just 19 minutes in the Premier League so far this season under the Dane. But the talented young forward is handling the difficult situation in the same classy manner as his new head coach.

When he was asked how Frank broke the disappointing news to him, Tel replied: “Quite simply, with respect. He called me, he simply told me his choice and then you could see the list appear on the networks.

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“It’s clear that when you’re not on a list, it definitely hurts, but I’m someone who stays pretty positive, no matter the situation, because I think I’ve worked a lot on the mental aspect, so today it’s definitely a disappointment, I would have liked to be there. But the coach’s choice is the coach’s choice, we can only respect it and we’re going to work to come back in the best possible way.”

Tel was asked whether the decision had spurred him into considering his future or just lit a fire within him to prove Frank wrong. “No matter, even if I was on the list, I would have had this desire, to be revengeful, to be able to be effective this season, to be able to start my season in the Premier League, because now, it’s a first long season that begins because last year it was in the form of a six-month loan,” the attacker added.

“A desire [to go] elsewhere? I am under contract with Tottenham, so I am a Tottenham player and I will do my best to be able to play quite simply.”

Tel, who was speaking in a press conference while away on international duty with the France Under-21 squad, will return to Tottenham later this week ahead of their next Premier League fixture away at West Ham.

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