Roberto De Zerbi Kisses Bentancur After Red Card as Spurs Show Fight at Old Trafford
Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi has admitted he planted a kiss on Rodrigo Bentancur in the dressing room, even though the midfielder was sent off for headbutting Luke Shaw in the 1-1 draw with Manchester United. Spurs had dominated without reward and looked set for another let-down when Bryan Mbeumo put United ahead in the 73rd minute, and Bentancur’s dismissal followed just five minutes later. Even so, Tottenham kept going, and Dominic Solanke headed in a stoppage-time equaliser in the second minute of added time to earn the visitors a point. It lifted Spurs off the foot of the table, though they are still waiting for their first league win of the season.
Speaking to Sky Sports, De Zerbi explained that he liked the way his players reacted to the setback. He made clear that a red card is not the right way to show passion and called it a poor way to respond, but said the team needed that refusal to accept defeat or simply let a goal in. For him, the kiss was a reward for the character on display, because in his view football is about character.
The manager’s focus was less on the sending-off itself and more on the mentality his squad showed under pressure. He said he was delighted with the spirit he saw and wants to build from that attitude, reaction and behaviour. Most importantly, he felt Spurs played as a team for the first time this season, suffering together while still controlling the game.
That unity was the biggest positive for De Zerbi, who believes the collective responsibility missing from earlier games finally appeared. Solanke’s header also gave Tottenham their first away goal in the league this season and denied United all three points after Mbeumo’s strike.
The draw doesn’t end the club’s rough run, but it hands De Zerbi something to build on. He will now hope his players carry that resolve into upcoming fixtures while tightening up their discipline and sharpening their finishing. Bentancur’s red card was a costly moment, yet the manager seemed far more encouraged by the team’s refusal to give in than bothered by losing a man.
Tottenham must now convert that resilience into steady results if they are to climb clear of the relegation zone and get their season moving.
