‘I kissed Rodrigo and said thanks’

Tottenham manager Roberto de Zerbi applauded Rodrigo Bentancur after he was dispatched in the 1-1 draw versus Manchester United

The Uruguay midfielder was revealed a red card for headbutting Luke Shaw throughout a spirited 78th-minute melee when Spurs were tracking 1-0 at Old Trafford.

In spite of being minimized to 10 guys, Tottenham handled to restore a point as Dominic Solanke headed home in the 2nd minute of included time.

Spurs stay winless in the Premier League this season after 6 video games, however De Zerbi was happy to Bentancur for supplying a “spark” versus United.

“I kiss Rodrigo and say thanks,” De Zerbi stated in his post-match interview.

“In that moment maybe with 10 players we played with more courage, more energy.

“For a very long time Tottenham played without this blood, this character.”

The incident happened when Shaw, on the receiving end of a reckless challenge by Bentancur, raced towards the Spurs player and shoved him off the pitch.

Bentancur reacted by planting his head towards Shaw’s face. The pair were separated by their team-mates before referee Stuart Attwell sent the substitute off.

De Zerbi said it was a “error” by Bentancur, but added it was the type of reaction Tottenham needed to finish the game.

“I kissed Bentancur in the dressing space due to the fact that we require this kind of response, this character. Football is character,” he told Sky Sports.

“I liked the scenario with the red card. We require at this minute the circumstance, not to bring a red card however we require to decline the defeat.”

In spite of the late elation triggered by Solanke’s 92nd-minute equaliser, Tottenham stay in the transfer zone with simply 3 points from their opening 6 matches.

It is simply the 4th time the club have actually stopped working to win each of their opening 6 video games of a league season, after 2008-09, 1955-56 and 1912-13.

Spurs have actually frequently looked dynamic in attack this season, however they have actually done not have conviction in front of objective and just 19th-placed Coventry have actually scored less objectives than Tottenham’s 3.

Tottenham fans can take belief from their general efficiency at Old Trafford as they ran United rough in the opening half with fluid, high-tempo football.

“Today has actually been the video game where for the very first time this season we revealed we are a group,” De Zerbi said.

“We bet the team-mates, we played together, we remained within the video game in every scenario and we assaulted as a group and protected as a group.”

The Italian manager added on Sky Sports: “I’m really pleased due to the fact that I’ve seen the best spirit, the best character and I wish to begin with this character, this response, this behaviour.”

Tottenham spent more than £250m on new talent over the summer – adding 10 players to their squad.

But their poor start has prompted the club to organise a warm-weather training camp in Spain, with the team expected to travel to Marbella on Sunday in the hope it will provide a chance for their new-look squad to bond.

“Now the target is to develop the group,” De Zerbi said.

“We are a terrific group of gamers however we are not a group yet and to be a group is to bet the team-mates, suffer together, attack together.”

Spurs deal with newly-promoted Coventry on Monday, 19 October before making the brief journey to Chelsea the following Saturday.