In a dramatic 1-1 draw against Leeds at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Spurs manager Roberto De Zerbi showed nothing but support for young forward Mathys Tel, despite a costly mistake that shifted the game's momentum.

Tel had given Tottenham the perfect start early in the second half, unleashing a stunning strike from outside the box that had the home crowd roaring. But the young Frenchman's afternoon took a turn when his attempted bicycle-kick clearance caught Ethan Ampadu in the head, conceding a penalty that Leeds converted to level the score.

Rather than criticism, De Zerbi offered nothing but warmth. "A big hug and a big kiss," the Spurs boss said when asked about his message to Tel. "Nothing more, because he's a young player, he's a big talent. He scored a great goal and he made a mistake due to inexperience. He hasn't played too many games in his career, and we have to accept that."

The manager was quick to highlight the positives from the performance. "I'm proud of the mentality we showed. We didn't play a great game like at Villa Park, but we played well enough to win. Before the last 15 or 20 minutes, they didn't have a shot on goal—just one in the first half. We had 14 corners, five clear chances, and entered their box 50 times compared to their 27. We just couldn't get that second goal."

The match also marked a significant milestone as James Maddison made his long-awaited return from injury after more than a year on the sidelines. De Zerbi believes the creative midfielder can be a game-changer in the season's final two matches.

"Great news for us," De Zerbi said. "He's a different player, with his quality and his character. I hope he will be crucial. Yesterday I spoke with him about his fitness and how many minutes he could play. He ended up playing more than he told me, which shows his determination."

With the race for European spots heating up, Spurs will need both Tel's growing confidence and Maddison's creative spark to finish the season strong. For now, De Zerbi's message is clear: protect the young talent, welcome back the experienced heads, and keep pushing forward.