Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto de Zerbi expressed his gratitude towards Rodrigo Bentancur after the midfielder's red card in the 1-1 draw against Manchester United. Bentancur was sent off in the 78th minute for headbutting Luke Shaw during a heated exchange. Despite being reduced to 10 men, Tottenham managed to salvage a point as Dominic Solanke scored in the second minute of added time. De Zerbi praised Bentancur's reaction, saying it provided a spark for the team.
The incident occurred when Shaw, who was on the receiving end of a reckless challenge by Bentancur, pushed the Spurs player off the pitch. Bentancur reacted by planting his head towards Shaw's face, leading to his dismissal by referee Stuart Attwell. De Zerbi acknowledged that Bentancur's actions were a mistake but emphasized that the type of reaction was needed to finish the game. He praised Bentancur's character, stating that football is about character.
De Zerbi's comments came during his post-match press conference, where he expressed his appreciation for Bentancur's display. He mentioned that with 10 players, Tottenham played with more courage and energy. The Italian manager noted that for a long time, Tottenham had played without the necessary blood and character. De Zerbi's praise for Bentancur was echoed in his conversation with Sky Sports, where he emphasized the importance of character in football.
Despite the late equalizer, Tottenham remains in the relegation zone with just three points from their opening six matches. This is the fourth time the club has failed to win each of their opening six games of a league season. Tottenham have often looked lively in attack but have struggled to find conviction in front of goal, scoring only three goals this season. However, their performance at Old Trafford provided some encouragement.
De Zerbi highlighted that the game against Manchester United was the first time this season that Tottenham played like a team. He praised the team's overall performance, stating that they played for each other, stayed in the game, and attacked and defended together. The Italian manager expressed his happiness with the team's spirit and character, emphasizing that he wants to build on this reaction.
Tottenham's poor start has prompted the club to organize a warm-weather training camp in Spain, which is expected to take place on Sunday. The team will travel to Marbella in the hope that it will provide an opportunity for their new-look squad to bond. De Zerbi emphasized that the target now is to build the team, noting that they are a great group of players but not yet a team.
Tottenham's next match is against newly-promoted Coventry on Monday, 19 October, followed by a trip to Chelsea the following Saturday. De Zerbi's side will look to build on their performance against Manchester United and start climbing out of the relegation zone. The team's ability to come back from a goal down and earn a point will be a crucial factor in their development under De Zerbi.
Key points
- Tottenham manager Roberto de Zerbi praised Rodrigo Bentancur for his reaction after being sent off in the 1-1 draw against Manchester United.
- Bentancur's red card sparked a change in Tottenham's performance, with the team playing with more courage and energy.
- Tottenham will look to build on their performance against Manchester United as they face Coventry and Chelsea in their upcoming matches.
