The private setting should allow De Zerbi to focus on combinations, workloads and squad depth without the usual attention surrounding a public fixture. With the new season approaching, the match offers a practical test of which players are adapting quickest to the manager’s demands.
A fourth pre-season game also provides more minutes for members of the first-team group who may not yet have had a consistent run. The emphasis is likely to be less on the result and more on establishing reliable partnerships across the pitch.
MK Dons are back in League One after finishing second in League Two last season, securing automatic promotion. That gives the fixture a competitive edge, even if Tottenham are expected to control possession and territory at Hotspur Way.
The sides last met in a pre-season friendly in July 2021, when Tottenham won 3-1 at Stadium MK. Son Heung-min, Dele and Lucas Moura were on the scoresheet that day, but the significance of this meeting lies in what De Zerbi can learn rather than any repeat of the previous result.
Tottenham’s next scheduled tests are against Auckland FC, Sydney FC and Chelsea. Those matches will bring greater scrutiny, making the MK Dons game an important final rehearsal before travelling.
The players who perform strongly in the private fixture could strengthen their case for prominent roles on tour. For De Zerbi, the next storyline will be whether the combinations tested at Hotspur Way carry into the overseas programme.