adminTottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has revealed that he kissed Rodrigo Bentancur in the dressing room despite the midfielder being sent off for headbutting Luke Shaw during their dramatic 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Spurs appeared to be heading towards another disappointing result after failing to capitalise on their dominance, with Bryan Mbeumo putting Manchester United ahead in the 73rd minute. The situation became even more complicated when Bentancur received his marching orders just five minutes later.
However, Tottenham refused to surrender despite being reduced to ten men. Dominic Solanke emerged as the late hero, heading home an equaliser in the second minute of stoppage time to rescue a valuable point for the visitors.
The result lifted Spurs off the bottom of the Premier League table, although their search for a first league victory of the campaign continues.
De Zerbi Explains Why He Kissed Bentancur
Bentancur’s dismissal threatened to derail Tottenham’s hopes of getting something from the contest. However, De Zerbi viewed his players’ reaction to the setback as evidence of the determination and fighting spirit he wants to see from his team.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, the Italian manager explained why he welcomed Bentancur’s response, even though he acknowledged that getting sent off was not the right way to demonstrate passion.
“I like the situation with Rodrigo and the red card,” De Zerbi said.
“We need, in this moment, this situation. Not to bring a red card, but we have not to accept the defeat. We have not to accept to concede a goal.
“We have to react in all ways we can. It’s a bad way. It’s not the right way. But I kissed Bentancur in the dressing room because we need this reaction, this type of reaction with character. Football is character.”
De Zerbi’s comments suggest that his main concern was not simply the dismissal itself, but the mentality his players demonstrated when faced with adversity.
Although the Tottenham manager made it clear that Bentancur’s actions were not acceptable, he appreciated the determination and emotional commitment shown by his squad in refusing to give up.
Tottenham Finally Show the Team Spirit De Zerbi Wants
The late equaliser was particularly important for Tottenham, who had struggled to turn promising performances into positive results during the opening weeks of the season.
Despite dominating significant periods of the encounter, Spurs initially appeared destined to leave Old Trafford empty-handed after Mbeumo gave Manchester United the advantage.
Bentancur’s dismissal made their task even more difficult, but the visitors continued pushing forward and eventually found the breakthrough they desperately needed.
For De Zerbi, the most encouraging aspect of the performance was the unity displayed by his players. The Italian believes the team finally demonstrated the collective responsibility and determination that had been missing from their previous outings.
“I’m very happy because I’ve seen the right spirit, the right character. I want to start from this character, this reaction, this behaviour,” he continued.
“Today, we showed to be a team for the first time this season. We play as a team, we suffer, we dominate the game.”
The manager’s assessment highlights the significance of Tottenham’s performance beyond the final scoreline. While the club remains desperate for a victory, the ability to respond positively after going behind and losing a player could provide a much-needed boost.
Solanke Rescues a Point as Tottenham Search for Their First Win
Solanke’s late header ensured Tottenham avoided defeat and secured their first away goal in the Premier League this season.
The striker’s intervention rewarded Spurs for their persistence and prevented Manchester United from taking all three points after Mbeumo’s second-half strike.
Although the draw does not end Tottenham’s difficult run, it offers De Zerbi an opportunity to build on a performance he believes demonstrated genuine team spirit for the first time this season.
The Tottenham boss will now hope his players can carry that determination into their upcoming fixtures while improving their discipline and finishing.
For Bentancur, the dismissal remains a costly moment in an otherwise fiercely contested match. Nevertheless, De Zerbi’s reaction suggests he was more encouraged by his teammates’ refusal to accept defeat than disappointed by the loss of a player.
Tottenham must now turn that resilience into consistent results if they are to climb away from the relegation zone and revive their Premier League campaign.
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