£85m New Signing: De Zerbi Was Key to My Choice of Tottenham

Tottenham have not won or scored in their first three Premier League matches this season, but Mateus Fernandes, who joined for £85 million in the summer window, believes he has joined a team that is about to start competing for trophies.

The midfielder impressed at West Ham last season and attracted interest from several clubs. Manchester United were also interested, but ultimately could not compete with Tottenham over the transfer fee. For Fernandes, it was his conversations with head coach Roberto De Zerbi that convinced him the North London project was right for him.

"The coach was key"

Speaking to Sky Sports before Saturday evening's match against Everton, Fernandes said: "I spoke with the coach, and he was the key to making this decision."

"When you speak with him, you can feel that energy, that passion for football."

"He spoke with me, and he spoke with my dad and my mum. So it was not only about me, but also about the people around me. He told my dad, 'We will take care of him.'"

"He is a top manager. You can feel it on the pitch and also away from the pitch. I am very happy to work with him."

After the deal was completed, Fernandes personally expressed his feelings to De Zerbi.

"On the first day of pre-season, I met him and he was very happy. I was also happy to play for him. I said, 'Look, I chose Tottenham, and a big part of the reason is you.'"

It was not only De Zerbi's words that impressed Fernandes; the Italian coach's football style also left a strong impression on him. "As a midfielder, I really like it," he said.

Believing teammates can help him become better

Fernandes believes the quality of Tottenham's squad can also raise his own level of performance.

"I believe I can become a much better player than last season," said the 22-year-old Portuguese, who scored three goals and provided four assists for West Ham in the Premier League last season.

"If you look at this squad, it is a big team with big-name players, important players, experienced players and many talented players. So when you play with better players, I think you become better as well. So I believe I can improve a lot."

Tottenham players have so far failed to turn that belief into more than one point. Despite facing heavy criticism in the opening weeks of the season, Fernandes remains confident that the team will soon start proving its doubters wrong and deliver in a significant way.

"I know what that feeling is like: when you win, you are the best; when you lose, you are the worst," he said.

"We are only focused on ourselves. If you believe in the club, if you believe in the head coach, you know you need some time to learn the timing and all the tactical aspects. When you reach that level, it is like ketchup. It starts coming out."