De Zerbi Praises Bentancur After Spurs’ 10-Man Draw at Manchester United
Tottenham left Old Trafford with a 1-1 draw and a first point of the Premier League season, but Roberto De Zerbi focused on the response rather than the result after his side recovered with 10 men. Dominic Solanke, captaining Spurs, struck in the 92nd minute to cancel out Manchester United’s lead, while Rodrigo Bentancur’s second-half dismissal became an unexpected symbol of the manager’s demand for greater resolve.
What changed for Tottenham
Bentancur was sent off after a heated confrontation near the touchline with United defender Luke Shaw, shortly after Tottenham had gone behind. The Uruguay midfielder’s red card left Spurs facing an even more difficult task in their search for a first league win of the campaign.
De Zerbi did not endorse the dismissal itself, but said he valued the emotion behind Bentancur’s reaction. The Tottenham manager revealed that he kissed the midfielder in the dressing room, explaining that the team needed players who refused to accept a losing position.
He said the conduct that produced the red card was not the correct response, but argued that the squad required more personality and urgency. For De Zerbi, the key point was that Tottenham kept competing, suffered when required and remained involved in the contest despite being reduced to 10 men.
The Italian described the display as the first occasion this season when he felt his side had properly functioned as a collective. He believes possession and attacking intent will not be enough unless the players also show the character to react to setbacks.
Solanke provided the decisive late contribution. The former Bournemouth forward wore the captain’s armband as recognition for his work through Tottenham’s difficult opening spell, then scored his fourth Premier League goal against Manchester United to secure the draw.
De Zerbi said Solanke had earned the captaincy, praising both his attitude and his quality as a striker. He maintained that there are few forwards better suited to Tottenham and stressed that the club must support the 28-year-old through a period in which the side had neither scored nor won regularly.
Competition context
The point in Manchester has not removed the broader concern around Tottenham’s league position. They remain in the relegation zone after failing to win any of their first six Premier League fixtures.
It is only the fourth time in the club’s history that Tottenham have started a league season without a victory in six matches. The current run matches starts recorded in 1912-13, 1955-56 and 2008-09.
De Zerbi arrived in north London with a reputation for progressive, attacking football, but the poor start has brought substantial pressure during a transitional period. The draw moved Spurs marginally nearer to safety, although the task of lifting themselves out of the bottom three remains unresolved.
The manager sees the Old Trafford comeback as a possible change in mentality. His view is that Tottenham had lacked the necessary edge in previous matches, regardless of their control of the ball, whereas their second-half response against United suggested a more resilient group.
What is scheduled next
Tottenham’s immediate priority is to turn the Manchester draw into their first Premier League victory of the season. No next fixture was specified, but De Zerbi has made clear what he expects from his players: continued belief in the team’s football, improvement in their collective work and a willingness to respond when matches turn against them.
- Tottenham are still seeking their first league win after six games.
- Bentancur will need to deal with the consequences of his red card.
- Solanke’s late equaliser and captaincy have strengthened his standing within the squad.
De Zerbi’s message was that goals and victories will follow only if Tottenham operate as a unit. The performance at Manchester United has given him evidence of the reaction he wants, but the next challenge is sustaining it without the indiscipline that left his team a player short.
