adminTottenham Hotspur secured a unnecessarily stressful 1-0 victory over already-relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers, with João Palhinha netting a late winner.
Spurs needed a superb save from Antonín Kinský to hang on for all three points. Despite remaining in the relegation zone, the team will draw confidence from their first win of 2026.
Manager Roberto De Zerbi, however, was likely frustrated with his attack, particularly Randal Kolo Muani. The French forward looked sluggish and short of ideas against Wolves, and merits being dropped for upcoming matches.
He failed to connect on either of his two attempted crosses, and aside from winning six of his ten duels, had little impact on the game. One media outlet summarized his display: “Powered an early shot wide of the right post. Offered very little else, with some under-hit passes, and was hooked at half-time. 3/10.”
His compatriot Mathys Tel replaced him at the break and was far more effective and lively. Kolo Muani has now started all three matches under De Zerbi without registering a single goal or assist.
The Italian coach should consider starting Tel ahead of the ineffective Kolo Muani for the final four league games. Tottenham’s season rests on these matches, and they cannot afford another passenger, especially up front.
While Tel hasn’t exactly taken the league by storm, he shows far greater intent to make something happen whenever he comes on. That energy should earn him a starting role.
Kolo Muani has been poor for Spurs this season, and finding a capable long-term alternative to him and Richarlison ought to be a top summer priority. With the market lacking elite under-23 striking talent, Spurs may need to gamble on a young forward who can develop into a force.
Two exciting prospects are Saint-Étienne’s Lucas Stassin and Real Madrid’s Gonzalo García, both of whom could thrive under De Zerbi at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Stats via Sofascore
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