Matheus Fernandes told Sky Sports that despite Tottenham Hotspur's winless start to the Premier League season after three matches, he believes the team has the quality to compete for trophies.

The midfielder, who joined Tottenham Hotspur this summer, played for West Ham last season, attracting interest from several clubs with his excellent performances. Manchester United also showed interest in signing him but ultimately could not compete with Tottenham on the transfer fee.

Fernandes stated that his communication with head coach De Zerbi was key to his decision to join Tottenham Hotspur: "I talked to the coach, and he was key to my decision. When you talk to him, you can feel his energy and his passion for football."

"He talked to me, and he talked to my dad and my mom. So it wasn't just about me, but also about the people around me. He told my dad, 'We will take good care of him.' He is a top coach, you can feel that both on and off the pitch. I'm very happy to work with him."

After the deal was finalized, Fernandes also told De Zerbi in person that one of the important reasons he chose Tottenham Hotspur was the coach. "When I saw him on the first day of pre-season training, he was very happy. I'm also happy to play for him. I told him, 'Look, a big part of why I chose Tottenham Hotspur is because of you.'"

In addition to De Zerbi's coaching style, the Italian coach's football philosophy also impressed Fernandes. He said: "As a midfielder like me, I really like it."

Fernandes believes that the quality of the Tottenham Hotspur squad will also help him improve his performance. The 22-year-old Portuguese player scored 3 goals and provided 4 assists in the Premier League for West Ham last season.

Fernandes said: "I believe I will be much stronger than last season. Look at this squad, it's a strong team with many big-name players, important players, experienced players, and also many quality players. So when you play with better players, I think you also play better. I believe I can improve significantly."

Tottenham Hotspur currently has only 1 point, but despite facing significant criticism in the first few weeks of the season, Fernandes still believes the team will soon prove the doubters wrong.

He said: "I know the feeling: when you win, you're the best; when you lose, you're the worst. We only focus on ourselves. If you believe in the club, believe in the coach, you know it takes some time to learn the rhythm of the game and all the tactical details. Once we really get into it, it will be like ketchup—it will all flow out at once."

Fernandes' first two seasons in English football both ended in relegation, first with Southampton and then with West Ham. However, he came to Tottenham Hotspur to win trophies.

Fernandes said: "This is also one of the reasons I came here, to play and compete for honors. We want to win games, we want to compete for titles. With this squad, it's normal for us to want to compete for titles."

"Right now, we haven't won in three consecutive games, so things need to settle down first. We need some time. Then, like I said, it will be like ketchup—once we win one, it will be easier."

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