'Short-term loan player' Mathis Tel (19, Tottenham) actively protected the manager.

German media 'Sport1' reported on the 18th (Korean time) that 'the one who mediated the argument between Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham Hotspur's manager, and the fans was none other than loan player Mathis Tel.'

Tottenham lost 0-2 to Fulham in an away match for the 29th round of the 2024-2025 Premier League held at Craven Cottage in London, England on the 16th.

As a result, Tottenham, which has no victories in the last three league matches, has dropped to 14th with 34 points (10 wins, 4 draws, 15 losses), and the gap with the relegation zone is narrowing.

Manager Postecoglou implemented a major rotation by giving rest to key players who played full time in the second leg of the UEFA Europa League (UEL) Round of 16 (3-1 victory). Key players such as Son Heung-min, James Maddison, and Mickey van de Ven started the match on the bench, while Mathis Tel, Dominic Solanke, and others were in the starting lineup.

Tottenham struggled to find a breakthrough throughout the first half, recording no shots on target. As soon as the second half began, Son Heung-min was substituted in to bring about a turnaround, but his cross and free kick did not result in consolidation with teammates. Eventually, in the 33rd minute of the second half, Rodrigo Muniz scored the opening goal, and in the 43rd minute, Ryan Sessegnon added another goal, leading to Tottenham's 0-2 defeat.

Once again, due to repeated poor performances, Tottenham fans could not contain their anger. In a released video, one fan shouted at Manager Postecoglou, 'XX(fu**) what is this?' At that, Manager Postecoglou stopped in his tracks and attempted to speak, saying, 'Hey, you’re still a young kid...' but a player rushed in to intercept the argument.

The protagonist is none other than the 19-year-old loan player Mathis Tel. According to the report from Sport1, Tel shouted at the excited fans, 'Show respect, respect.'

The media reported that 'in the argument between Postecoglou and the fans captured in the released video, Mathis Tel played a significant role. He stood at the center and helped organize the situation. He actively protected the manager. The argument concluded as Tel and Postecoglou headed toward the locker room.'

Meanwhile, Tel was born in Sarcelles, France, and joined the youth teams of JS Villiers-le-Bel, Paris FC, and AS Jeunesse Aubervilliers before joining the Stade Rennais youth team in July 2020. He quickly grew and made his debut with the Stade Rennais first team at the age of 16 in 2021, setting the record as the youngest player in the club's history.

Tel, who can play in attacking positions, joined Bayern Munich in July 2022 and transferred to the German stage. Just a month after his transfer, he scored in his first start and became the youngest scorer in Bayern history.

In his first season at Bayern, Tel contributed to winning the Bundesliga and appeared in a total of 83 matches, scoring 16 goals.

Tel joined Tottenham on loan until the end of the 2024-2025 season in February. An option for a permanent transfer is included, and if this option is activated, Tel will sign a 6-year contract.

[OSEN = Jeong Seung-woo, reporter]