English pundit heaps praise on Tottenham midfielder Pape Matar Sarr’s development this season
Tottenham Hotspur have enjoyed an impressive start to the 2025/26 season and currently lie third in the Premier League table. They went into the international break on the back of a 2-1 success over Leeds United at Elland Road, thereby, ending their three-game winless run in all competitions.
Thomas Frank is known for bringing out the best in his players and develop different sides to their game. He improved several players during his spell at Brentford and is now doing the same at Spurs. The players are also enjoying a new role under the Danish tactician as they look to build on the Europa League success.
There are several players who have stepped up and delivered consistent performances this season. Among those is Pape Matar Sarr, but truth be told, he has gone under the radar. Like many other players in the squad, the Senegal international is operating in a different position for Tottenham under Thomas Frank. And it is fair to say that central midfielder is playing his best football in a Spurs shirt since he joined from FC Metz in 2021.
English pundit heaps praise on Tottenham midfielder Pape Matar Sarr's development this season.
Pape Matar Sarr has thrived in a new role under Thomas Frank
Ex-Tottenham midfielder impressed by Pape Matar Sarr this season
Pape Matar Sarr has quietly gone about his business for Spurs, playing a key role in their strong start to the season. The 23-year-old has been assigned an advanced role in midfield by Frank to compensate for the injury absences of creative players James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, and overall, he’s performed well.
Competing with the likes of Joao Palhinha, Lucas Bergvall and Rodrigo Bentancur for a spot in the first XI, the combative midfielder has started just four of seven Premier League outings so far. Former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara has been impressed by Sarr this season, admitting that he was not sure about the player when he first joined the club.
Rating the signings made by newly-appointed co-sporting director Fabio Paratici during his first spell in north London, Jamie O’Hara told Sky Sports:
“Oh, it’s a hit. Yeah. At the start, I was a bit wasn’t sure if he [Sarr] was good enough. He was a bit rash, but he was young.
“This season for me, he’s shown that he is a top player and his energy in midfield, his bite, you know the modern the modern game now, where you’ve got to be up and down, you’ve got to be everywhere. I think he’s a massive hit.”
A long way to go for Sarr
Sarr played as a No.6 or 8 under Ange Postecoglou and started 22 times in the Premier League last season. Frank has given him a new role in his system, i.e. the No.10 role, and he seems to be doing well. It is fair to say that the Senegalese is more suited to playing as a box-to-box midfielder, yet one goal and two assists in six Premier League outings is a good return.
Fans will hope that the best is yet to come from the industrious African midfielder. He will look to improve every day and become a mainstay in the Tottenham side. There is a long way to go for Sarr in his career.