Preseason is supposed to be the time for players to settle in, shake off the rust, and make their case for the starting lineup.
But for Tottenham’s Mathys Tel, Sunday’s friendly against Newcastle was anything but reassuring.
The young forward had a golden opportunity to double Spurs’ lead—and completely fluffed it.
Tel Blows a Clear Shot at Glory
Early in the game, Pedro Porro slipped a perfect through ball to Tel, who had acres of space ahead of him.
Picking up the ball near the halfway line, the Frenchman charged toward goal with no defender in sight. It was just him and Nick Pope.
But instead of finishing with authority, Tel hesitated.
He tried a stepover, hoping to fool the keeper—but Pope wasn’t buying it.
The Newcastle shot-stopper stayed composed and saved the tame effort with ease.
The moment passed, and with it, a chance to put Tottenham firmly in control.
Fans on Social Media Weren’t Feeling Forgiving
As expected, Spurs fans didn’t hold back on social media.
One frustrated supporter wrote on X, “It is a preseason friendly but that was pretty dreadful!” Another said, “Should have chipped it or gone around the keeper. Terrible decision making.”
A third simply asked: “How does he not finish that? Gives you little confidence he’s going to get any numbers again.”
Others were even harsher, suggesting that Tel “is nowhere close to Premier League level” and is “a million miles away from a top player.”
Brennan Johnson Opens the Scoring, But Newcastle Hit Back
Despite Tel’s miss, it was Brennan Johnson who gave Tottenham something to cheer about early on.
He found the back of the net just seven minutes into the game.
But Newcastle hit back later in the first half, with Harvey Barnes grabbing the equalizer and bringing the match to a 1-1 conclusion.
A Sentimental Farewell for Son Heung-Min?
This wasn’t just any game for Spurs—it might have marked the end of an era.
Playing on home soil in South Korea, Son Heung-Min’s appearance in the match could be his last in a Tottenham shirt.
His departure was announced just a day earlier, adding emotional weight to an otherwise routine preseason fixture.
Spurs Wrap Up Their Asia Tour Unbeaten
Despite the draw, Tottenham ended their Far East tour unbeaten.
They previously edged past Arsenal 1-0 and picked up two more draws—against Luton and Wycombe—plus a win over Reading. Not bad for a team in transition.
Big Matches Ahead Before the Real Business Begins
Next up, Thomas Frank’s squad will test themselves against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena next Thursday.
Then comes a high-profile showdown against Paris Saint-Germain in the Super Cup final on August 13.
And just three days after that, the real pressure begins—Spurs kick off their Premier League campaign at home against Burnley.
What’s Next for Tel?
One miss in preseason doesn’t define a player, but Tel will need to bounce back—and fast.
With fans already voicing concern, he’ll be under scrutiny in every upcoming match.
The good news? There’s still time to prove the doubters wrong.