De Zerbi: 'I kiss Rodrigo and say thanks' after red card led to equalizer

Tottenham manager Roberto de Zerbi praised Rodrigo Bentancur’s red card as a necessary display of character after the midfielder’s aggressive reaction helped spark a late equalizer against Manchester United. The 1-1 draw at Old Trafford left Spurs winless in their opening six matches, but de Zerbi focused on the shift in mentality that followed the dismissal.

The incident unfolded in the 78th minute during a heated exchange. After Bentancur made a reckless challenge on Luke Shaw, the United defender shoved him off the pitch. Bentancur responded by planting his head toward Shaw’s face before teammates intervened. Referee Stuart Attwell issued the red card immediately.

Reduced to ten men, Tottenham refused to fold. Dominic Solanke headed home in the second minute of added time to salvage a point. De Zerbi acknowledged the tackle was a mistake but said the reaction provided exactly what the squad needed to finish the match.

"I kiss Rodrigo and say thanks," de Zerbi told reporters. "In that moment maybe with 10 players we played with more courage, more energy."

The manager emphasized that the team finally showed the grit required to compete. "Today has been the game where for the first time this season we showed we are a team," he said. He noted that the players attacked and defended together, staying engaged despite the numerical disadvantage.

Tottenham’s winless start marks just the fourth time in club history they have failed to win their opening six league games, following seasons in 2008-09, 1955-56, and 1912-13. The side has struggled to convert chances, scoring only three goals this campaign.

Despite spending over £250m on ten new players during the summer, the group has yet to gel. De Zerbi plans to address the lack of cohesion with a training camp in Marbella, Spain, expected to begin Sunday. The squad will face Coventry on Monday, 19 October, followed by a trip to Chelsea the next Saturday as they work to turn their season around.