Trailing 1-0 at Old Trafford, Tottenham saw Rodrigo Bentancur dismissed after a dangerous tackle and a heated reaction, before De Zerbi famously kissed his midfielder after the match.
Despite better play and slight dominance, Spurs settled for a 1-1 draw on United’s turf, thanks to Dominik Solanke’s 92nd‑minute strike on Premier League matchday six. The red card came in the 78th minute.
After a two‑footed challenge on Luke Shaw, the Uruguayan midfielder rose quickly and head‑butted the English defender’s face, prompting the referee to send him off while Shaw received a yellow.
We need this kind of reaction
With Spurs reduced to ten men, De Zerbi seemed reluctant to condemn his player, who responded as the coach instructed: “I liked Bentancur’s red‑card situation. We need moments like this now. Yet we can’t accept defeat or concede goals. We had to react one way or another. It isn’t the right method, not the right approach.” In my view, the manager’s endorsement was misplaced.
He even thanked him after the game, saying: “I kissed Rodrigo Bentancur in the dressing room because we need that kind of character. Football is character.” The Spurs sit 18th, still winless in the league this season. Will Mathys Tel and his teammates finally secure a victory against Coventry City next week, or will another setback endanger De Zerbi’s job?