“Forget Palhinha’s goal for now: ‘Everything was under control until he came on’ — Wolves manager says 23-year-old underrated star was totally unplayable as he singlehandedly won the game for Spurs”

Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Rob Edwards singled out Mathys Tel for special praise after Tottenham’s narrow 1-0 victory at Molineux, admitting the young forward played a decisive role in swinging the game away from his side.

Despite Wolves showing resilience for large parts of the contest, Edwards conceded that moments of individual quality ultimately made the difference — and Tel was at the heart of it.

“It’s not as simple as people think, just turning up and beating Tottenham because of their situation,” Edwards said after the match. “They’ve got real quality in their squad, and Tel showed that. Every time he got on the ball, he caused problems and shifted the momentum.”

Tel, who joined Spurs permanently after his move from Bayern Munich, has steadily grown into a key attacking outlet. Known for his pace, directness, and composure in big moments, the 20-year-old once again demonstrated why Tottenham invested heavily in his long-term potential.

Throughout the game, Wolves looked organised and competitive, especially in the first half where clear chances were limited. However, Edwards admitted that Tel’s movement between the lines and ability to drive at defenders disrupted his side’s structure.

“There were spells where we were in control,” Edwards added. “But against players like him, one moment can change everything. He stretched us, he forced us back, and that’s where we lost our grip on the game.”

Tottenham eventually capitalised late on, with João Palhinha grabbing the decisive goal to secure a crucial win in their fight against relegation.

Edwards, whose side have already been relegated from the Premier League this season, acknowledged that while the result was disappointing, it underlined the fine margins at this level.

“I’m proud of the effort, but against top players you have to be perfect for 90 minutes,” he said. “We weren’t, and Tel in particular punished that. He took the game away from us.”

For Tottenham, the performance highlighted the growing influence of Tel in a team battling for survival, while for Wolves, it was another reminder of how decisive individual brilliance can be in tight Premier League encounters.