"Yes, it is a perfect day for him," Roberto De Zerbi said, and he had the evidence. Sávio came off the bench for Tottenham against Charlton, scored, assisted and changed the feel of the night in a little over 20 minutes. The praise did not last on its own, though. De Zerbi's message after the winger's debut was that excitement is only the starting point.
The manager had already set the bar higher. Savio joined from Manchester City in an £85million deal on Tuesday, and De Zerbi said the target for Tottenham's wingers is 10 or 12 goals across the season.
De Zerbi's demand after the perfect start
There was no need to talk down the debut. Savio delivered two direct goal contributions in his cameo, exactly the kind of instant impact Tottenham wanted from a big-money signing.
De Zerbi, quoted by standard.co.uk, said: "I think his biggest step and biggest improvement is to increase the number of goals because as qualities, I think he is one of the best wingers, but the best wingers score many goals."
That feels like the right line from Tottenham's point of view. Savio's talent was obvious straight away, but Tottenham are not paying for a highlights package. They need production from wide areas after scoring 48 Premier League goals last season and finishing 17th.
De Zerbi put a number on it as well. Speaking to standard.co.uk, he said: "I spoke with him and we put the goal on 10 or 12 goals (target) because we need 10 or 12 goals from the wingers."
That target makes the debut more interesting, not less. Savio already supplied a goal and an assist in one short appearance, so the manager can point to the upside without easing off the demand.
A better night for Spurs' attack
Savio was the headline, but the game gave Tottenham more than one encouraging sign after the 3-0 loss to Brentford. Mikey Moore scored the opener with a powerful left-footed drive, while Dominic Solanke and Kevin Danso also made decisive contributions in the win.
Moore's goal stood out because he has made only one senior appearance this season. Tottenham still have a decision to make on the teenager's short-term role, and De Zerbi has made clear he wants the club to get that call right.
Charlton did get one back late on through Lloyd Jones, but this was still a much better attacking response from Spurs. Savio gave it the spark, and De Zerbi gave it the frame.
The winger has already shown he can light up a game. The tougher part starts after that first impression, because De Zerbi has attached a clear number to the signing: 10 or 12 goals from the flank.
FAQ
Why did Roberto De Zerbi praise Savio but still demand more after his Tottenham debut?
De Zerbi called it a perfect day for Savio after the winger scored and assisted in just over 20 minutes against Charlton. Even so, he said the next step is goals over a full season, with Tottenham setting a target of 10 or 12 from their wide players.
How good was Savio on his Tottenham debut against Charlton?
Savio made an immediate impact. He scored and assisted during a 20-minute cameo in Tottenham's Carabao Cup win over Charlton, which is why De Zerbi described it as a perfect day. The debut looked sharp, but the manager's focus stayed on whether he can keep adding goals regularly.
Why are Tottenham asking for more goals from their wingers?
Tottenham scored 48 Premier League goals last season and finished 17th, so De Zerbi's demand for 10 or 12 goals from his wingers fits a broader attacking reset. Savio's debut gave them instant end product, but the manager wants that output sustained over the season.
Did anyone else stand out for Tottenham against Charlton apart from Savio?
Yes. Mikey Moore scored Tottenham's opener, Dominic Solanke also made a decisive contribution in the win, and Kevin Danso scored with his first touch off the bench in the 67th minute. The match offered a much better attacking response after Tottenham's 3-0 loss to Brentford.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →
