Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho has told the club’s official website that he felt Gedson Fernandes was ‘really, really good’ against Ipswich Town.
Spurs won their first pre-season game on Saturday afternoon, beating Ipswich 3-0 at home in a comfortable win.
Ryan Sessegnon opened the scoring whilst Son Heung-min added a brace, giving Mourinho a winning start to pre-season.
Mourinho notably started with Fernandes at right back, utilising the midfielder in an unfamiliar position – and he praised his compatriot for filling in there.
“I have no Aurier, no Tanganga, Gedson played at right back for the first time – and he was really, really good,” said Mourinho.
Is Gedson really the answer?
This seems like a case of circumstance rather than a great masterplan; Serge Aurier played no part in the game amid rumours he could be leaving, whilst Kyle Walker-Peters has already gone.
Juan Foyth would have been another option to play at right back, but he played centrally, leaving Mourinho with few other candidates to fill in as a makeshift right back.
Gedson, who is fight footed, hard-working and athletically talented, was well worth a risk in the first pre-season game of the summer against a League One side.
The 21-year-old fared well, showing that he can maybe play there if needed in an emergency situation.
However, expecting Gedson to be first-choice or even second choice in that area would be naïve of Spurs, as they need specialist right backs to fill that spot.
Playing Gedson at right back is maybe an idea worth pursuing in pre-season, but under no circumstances can Spurs shelve their plans to sign a new right back just yet.
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