Roberto De Zerbi Sets Goal Target for Savio After Scoring on Tottenham Debut

Roberto De Zerbi has set a goal target of 10 to 12 for Savio after the Brazilian winger marked his Tottenham debut with a goal in their 5-1 Carabao Cup victory against Charlton Athletic. The £85 million signing came off the bench and quickly made an impact, but De Zerbi insists he needs to find the net more regularly to truly stand out.

Spurs Dominate Charlton Early

Before Savio entered the game in the 71st minute, Tottenham had already taken control thanks to goals from Mikey Moore, Dominic Solanke, and Kevin Danso. Savio wasted no time proving his worth, curling a precise low shot into the bottom corner within 11 minutes of coming on. Although a second goal was ruled as an own goal by Ben Davies after a deflection, the impression Savio made was clear.

De Zerbi's Expectations for the New Signing

The manager praised Savio's qualities but emphasized the need for more goals from wide players. De Zerbi commented:

"Yes, it was a perfect day for him. I think his biggest step and biggest improvement is to increase the number of goals. With his qualities, he is one of the best wingers. But the best wingers score many goals. I spoke with him yesterday, two days ago. We put the goal on 10 to 12 goals because we need those goals from the wingers. Last season, I think we suffered too much. Also, because the number of goals were not enough to compete for nothing more than that position."

Pressure Comes with the Price Tag

Savio joined Tottenham from Manchester City earlier this week for £85 million, bringing high expectations. During his time at City, he scored seven goals and provided 13 assists in 84 appearances across all competitions. Tottenham’s strong home record in the Carabao Cup continues with this win, marking their seventh victory in eight matches at North London venues.

Upcoming Fixtures

This big win sets up an exciting Carabao Cup third-round tie against Liverpool, where Spurs will seek revenge after their semi-final exit last season. Before that, Tottenham’s attention returns to the Premier League as they prepare to host Newcastle United this weekend. Maintaining this attacking form will be key to handling a challenging schedule ahead.

• Charlton Athletic vs Preston North End: 29 Aug 2026, 16:00
• Tottenham Hotspur vs Newcastle United: 29 Aug 2026, 18:30