Tottenham fans left buzzing after watching their side breeze past Charlton Athletic 5-1, though Paul Scholes has reportedly cautioned against reading too much into it just yet. The win offered a timely response from Roberto De Zerbi’s side following a frustrating result in the league, with Spurs sharper, more confident and clinical whenever the chances came.
Savinho was the name on everyone’s lips. Tottenham’s €85 million recruit looked sharp from the off, using his speed and close control to trouble Charlton down the flank, while his readiness to take on defenders and get forward gave the side another dimension going forward. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t take long for supporters to take to social media, with plenty tipping the Brazilian to become one of the most exciting players on the books this season.
Scholes, though, isn’t quite ready to join the celebration. His stance is that while Savinho showed flashes of quality, a single outing against Championship opposition doesn’t yet justify the fee Tottenham paid for him — a view that plenty of Spurs fans would push back on. Few at the club genuinely believe one Carabao Cup display makes him the finished product, but supporters will point out that flair and unpredictability were exactly what he was signed to bring, and that’s exactly what he delivered. His pace stood out, his confidence stood out, and above all he looked eager to take the game by the scruff of the neck — traits Tottenham have been crying out for.
Scholes’ reservations will likely persist until Savinho replicates that form in the Premier League itself, and that’s a reasonable bar to set — top-flight defenders won’t offer anywhere near the same space or time that Charlton did. But that’s exactly why Wednesday’s showing should be taken as a positive signal rather than brushed aside. Savinho’s Tottenham career has only just started, and De Zerbi will be wary of piling pressure on him too soon; the priority is simply that he keeps settling into the system and growing into his role. Should his confidence carry over into league football, the price tag will soon become an afterthought next to his output.
For now, the mood among Spurs fans is upbeat — Scholes may want more proof, but supporters will be hoping Savinho gets the chance to show soon that Wednesday’s display was no one-off.
