Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has defended Rodrigo Bentancur following his red card against Manchester United, revealing that he kissed the midfielder in the dressing room after Spurs fought back to snatch a dramatic late draw at Old Trafford.
Bentancur was sent off in the 78th minute after appearing to headbutt Luke Shaw following a challenge, leaving Tottenham with 10 men and facing the prospect of defeat. Bryan Mbeumo had given United the lead just five minutes earlier, putting the hosts in control of the contest.
However, Tottenham refused to surrender. Captain Dominic Solanke struck a stoppage-time equaliser to secure a valuable point and spark celebrations among the visiting players.
While Bentancur’s dismissal could have proved costly, De Zerbi focused on the reaction it triggered from his team, insisting that Tottenham needed to develop the character to fight through difficult moments.
“I liked the situation with Rodrigo’s red card, we need in this moment that situation, not to bring a red card, but we need to not accept the defeat, to not accept conceding goals,” De Zerbi told Sky Sports.
“We have to react in all ways we can. It is a bad way, not the right way, but I kiss Bentancur in the dressing room because we need this type of reaction with character.
“Football is character.”
De Zerbi’s comments underline his desire to build a Tottenham side that refuses to fold under pressure. Although he acknowledged that Bentancur’s reaction was not the right way to respond, the Italian manager was encouraged by the determination his players showed after going a goal down and losing a man.
Tottenham had enjoyed promising spells before the dismissal but struggled to turn their attacking opportunities into goals. Their inability to make the most of their chances allowed Manchester United to remain in the contest before Mbeumo broke the deadlock.
Despite the setback, Spurs continued to compete and eventually found their reward through Solanke, whose late intervention denied United victory on home soil.
De Zerbi was particularly pleased with Tottenham’s overall performance, arguing that his team demonstrated the balance between attacking ambition and resilience that he wants to see consistently.
“I think we play very well against a great team, the first half we had total control, we had many chances to score, clear chances we didn’t score and in the second half its normal to suffer in this stadium against this quality of players, but I’m very happy because I’ve seen the right spirit, the right character,” he added.
“Today we showed we are a team for the first time this season, we suffer, we dominate the game. With every situation in the game we were in the game. Football is like this.
“If we become every game like today, we are going to win many games.”
The Tottenham boss believes the performance could provide a foundation for a stronger run of results, particularly if his players maintain the intensity and togetherness they displayed at Old Trafford.
However, Bentancur’s dismissal remains a significant talking point. While De Zerbi praised the midfielder’s fighting spirit, the incident also highlighted the importance of controlling emotions in high-pressure situations. Tottenham cannot afford to regularly lose players through avoidable disciplinary incidents.
For Spurs, the late equaliser offered more than just a point. It demonstrated their ability to respond when a match appears to be slipping away, a quality De Zerbi believes will be essential as he looks to establish his footballing identity at the club.
His message was clear: Tottenham must show character, but that determination must be channelled into disciplined performances. If they can combine resilience with greater clinical finishing, De Zerbi believes better results will follow.
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