Rodrigo Bentancur was excellent for Tottenham Hotspur against Brighton, and the midfielder could be the catalyst for survival.
It’s felt like an eternity for Tottenham fans waiting and hoping for Bentancur’s return before the end of the season, and thankfully, it’s arrived.
The 28-year-old central midfielder hadn’t kicked a ball in anger since the 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth on 7 January ahead of Spurs’ clash with Brighton on Saturday.
However, with Roberto De Zerbi having no time to play things safe in N17, he decided to throw the Uruguayan straight back into the deep end following his return from injury.
But he swam alright, and now with just five games to play, the experienced midfielder’s return against the Seagulls might just be a watershed moment in Tottenham’s fight for survival.
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How well did Rodrigo Bentancur play for Tottenham vs Brighton?
Bentancur was spotted in Tottenham training in the days leading up to the Brighton match, sparking speculation that he’d be involved on Saturday.
Some were sceptical of him being handed any major minutes though given his lengthy absence, rather, a return to the matchday squad with a brief 10-15-minute substitute cameo was perhaps the more likely outcome.
However, De Zerbi instead opted to bring him immediately back into the starting lineup, clearly understanding just how big of a player he is and can be in the remaining weeks of the campaign.
This was risky given the potential for him to re-aggravate his injury if not fully ready, but it was a gamble De Zerbi was prepared to take, and it worked.
As per Sofascore, Bentancur played 86 per cent of his passes successfully with a 96 per cent success rate inside his own half, as well as making 15 carries and eight defensive contributions.
He also won all four of his tackle attempts, five of his six ground duels, made two interceptions and two clearances, as well as making four recoveries.
So, after touching the ball 51 times, Bentancur was eventually replaced after 67 minutes by Joao Palhinha, in what was a highly encouraging performance from a player that Lilywhites fans know has the quality to have a big say on their season yet.
De Zerbi has got a recipe for Spurs success with 4-3-3 formation
In De Zerbi’s opening game against Sunderland, he set Tottenham up in a 4-1-2-3 formation, with Archie Gray as the holding midfielder behind Conor Gallagher and Lucas Bergvall as more advanced attacking midfielders.
That didn’t really work though, and so against Brighton, he switched to a 4-3-3 with a flat midfield three of Gallagher, Yves Bissouma and Bentancur respectively, and found much more success.
Bissouma didn’t have a great game, but Gallagher and Bentancur both played really well, and with Bergvall coming off the bench to get the assist for Xavi Simons’ goal, he may have earned a start against Wolves.
So, De Zerbi should stick with the 4-3-3 against Wanderers, but bring Bergvall in place of Bissouma to provide that attacking impetus in the engine room, allowing Bentancur and Gallagher to play metronomic roles.
Bentancur was the mechanism that turned the Tottenham cogs in midfield against Brighton, linking defence and attack so well.
In truth, he’s far too good to be involved in a side battling relegation, but that’s precisely why Spurs have to keep him fit and in the team over the final games, as his quality can make all the difference. No question.
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