De Zerbi’s Unlikely Praise: Kiss for Bentancur After Red Card in Spurs’ 1-1 Draw at Man Utd

FolioPitch.com – 11 October 2026 | In a dramatic Premier League encounter at Old Trafford, Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi offered a surprising reaction to Rodrigo Bentancur’s red card, revealing that he kissed the midfielder and thanked him. The incident occurred during Spurs’ 1-1 draw with Manchester United, where Dominic Solanke‘s stoppage-time header rescued a point for the 10-man visitors. De Zerbi on Bentancur red card after Spurs draw with Man Utd I kissed him and said thanks became the talking point of the match, as the Italian coach explained his unconventional response to a costly mistake.

Bentancur, who had come on as a substitute, was sent off in the 78th minute for thrusting his head into Luke Shaw’s chest, leaving Tottenham to battle with ten men. United had taken the lead five minutes earlier through Bryan Mbeumo, who finished off a slick move involving Matheus Cunha. But rather than lambast his player, De Zerbi chose empathy. “I kissed Rodrigo, and I said thanks,” De Zerbi told Sky Sports. “Because it’s clear it’s a mistake from Rodrigo, because it’s not the right reaction in football, but now Tottenham needs to react. Sometimes the reactions are not nice, not positive for the team, but I think in that moment, in 10 players, maybe we played with more courage, we played with more energy, and we changed the game. For a long time Tottenham played without this blood, this character, and I want it. Now I am the coach, and I want to see this character every game.”

De Zerbi on Bentancur red card after Spurs draw with Man Utd I kissed him and said thanks was not the only headline from his post-match comments. The manager also praised his team’s overall performance, insisting they deserved more from the game. “I think we played very well against a great team,” he said. “We had many chances to score in the first half. Three or four. The second half is normal to suffer against this quality. I am very happy because I have seen the right spirit and character.”

Spurs had indeed created the better opportunities before the break, with Solanke and Brennan Johnson both going close. But United grew into the game and took the lead when Mbeumo slotted home. The red card seemed to galvanise Tottenham rather than deflate them, and Solanke’s late header from a Sandro Tonali cross—his first goal since his summer move—sparked wild celebrations among the away fans.

De Zerbi’s decision to hand Solanke the captain’s armband was another talking point. The striker has faced criticism for his lack of goals, but the manager explained it was a show of faith. “He deserves to be a captain today, because he suffered maybe too much,” De Zerbi said. “Because ‘Tottenham didn’t win, Tottenham didn’t score, who is the striker of Tottenham? Solanke is not good enough’, it’s not true. Solanke is good enough to play, maybe he is the best striker for us, because of his qualities. He is a complete player, he is a good guy, he has personality. After the last game, the criticism, I wanted to put him as captain, to show my confidence and the confidence of the team, because all the other players were happy when I said that Domi Solanke is captain.”

The result leaves Tottenham still searching for consistency, but De Zerbi believes he saw signs of progress. “For sure, we didn’t deserve to lose the game, we deserved to be one, two goals up in the first half,” he said. “Today has been the game where, for the first time this season, we showed we are a team. We played for our team-mates, we played together, we believed until the end of the game.”

Reflecting further on the Bentancur incident, De Zerbi on Bentancur red card after Spurs draw with Man Utd I kissed him and said thanks reiterated that his player’s reaction, while unacceptable, came from a place of passion. “It’s not the right reaction in football,” he admitted. “But I want to see this character, this blood, in every game. We have a great group of players but we are not a team yet. Work together, stay together, have dinner together and get to know each other better.”

Spurs will now head to Marbella for a warm-weather training camp, which De Zerbi views as a crucial opportunity to build team unity. “Now the target is to build the team, not the group of players,” he said. “We need to become a team in every sense.” The Italian’s methods may be unorthodox, but his players appear to be buying into his vision.

In conclusion, De Zerbi’s handling of Bentancur’s red card—choosing affection over admonishment—reflects his broader philosophy of fostering resilience and togetherness. While the draw at Old Trafford leaves Spurs with work to do, the spirit shown in adversity could prove a turning point. As De Zerbi on Bentancur red card after Spurs draw with Man Utd I kissed him and said thanks continues to resonate, it is clear that the manager values character as much as tactical discipline. Only time will tell if this approach yields the consistency Tottenham crave.