Just like most of Tottenham Hotspur‘s squad, Rodrigo Bentancur is a bit of a mystery. It can be hard to put a finger on what he brings to the team.
But what is certain is that Spurs missed him – badly – during his lengthy injury lay-off. The midfielder underwent surgery on a hamstring issue sustained during the 3-2 defeat by Bournemouth on January 7, after initial assessments determined it was significant.
Before that setback, he had played regularly under Thomas Frank, starting 25 of the first 30 matches of the campaign. That was despite his stock not being particularly high, with the 28-year-old often criticised for Spurs’ lack of adventure and guile in deeper positions.
This season has been defined by a series of awkward ifs, buts and maybes, and there are just as many question marks over Bentancur: does he offer enough in midfield? Are Spurs better with or without him? All that is abundantly clear is that De Zerbi trusts him.
Now back fit and firing, Bentancur has started two of the Italian’s opening three matches in charge, hinting that he could hold a crucial role long into the future.
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Rodrigo Bentancur impresses Roberto De Zerbi
De Zerbi inherited a real mess after being parachuted in to rescue Spurs’ season.
Under Frank and Igor Tudor, Tottenham had defended sloppily, while they also lacked a cutting edge and control in midfield. This seemed to emanate through the entire starting XI, culminating in too many jittery performances and individual lapses.
Confidence, therefore, was at an all-time low.
It was obvious that the Italian would need to carry out major surgery in the centre of the pitch. He set about simplifying tactics, realising he did not have enough time to reinvent the wheel. Numerous midfielders have also been tried out in the pivot.
In his first match against Sunderland, Archie Gray and Conor Gallagher were placed in tandem, while Lucas Bergvall played as the No 10. They lacked any semblance of control, though, and succumbed to a 1-0 defeat after allowing Granit Xhaka to boss the department.
While outstanding talents, neither Gray nor Bergvall can grip games by the scruff of the neck. De Zerbi appeared to realise this and instead turned to Bentancur and Yves Bissouma for the 2-2 draw with Brighton. All of a sudden, Spurs were more composed where it mattered.
That would have come as no surprise to supporters.
After all, they had been the duo who more often than not got the nod under Ange Postecoglou in the No 6 spots, albeit not usually alongside each other. Still, they started the Europa League final triumph over Manchester United, as well as both semi-finals.
Bentancur and Bissouma were crucial in helping Tottenham to settle into a rhythm in front of an expectant – and jittery – home crowd. In doing so, the former also provided a welcome reminder of his qualities, which perhaps make him Spurs’ most intelligent central midfielder.
He may not be their most dynamic option, but his reading of the game and ability to control the tempo will be crucial in helping Spurs to stave off relegation during the run-in. That was proven again when he put in another composed performance in the 1-0 victory at Wolves.
Bentancur took a total of 79 touches across the 90 minutes, while his heat map showed he popped up everywhere in the middle third of the pitch, including both channels. Crucially, he also completed 54 of his 61 passes, boasting an impressive 89 per cent success rate.
He more than played his part in a rare shutout, too, registering three tackles, three clearances, three interceptions and six recoveries at Molineux. Imposing in duels, he won four of seven on the ground (67 per cent) and all three in the air (100 per cent).
Is Bentancur really better than other midfield options?
At least on paper, Bentancur complements Spurs’ more dynamic central midfielders. While Bissouma and Gallagher are at their best harrying after opponents, tackling and progressing with the ball, the Uruguayan is more comfortable using his intelligence to keep possession.
Frequently, this has been mistaken for passivity. He is, admittedly, not the Premier League’s most accomplished metronome, but his ability to keep a cool head when under the cosh is invaluable to Spurs and De Zerbi. That much was evident against Brighton.
With the finish line in sight, De Zerbi has correctly prioritised safety and stability over risk. He has also called upon Spurs’ more experienced players to guide the squad home, explaining why Bentancur has been thrust immediately into the XI.
Whether it will work remains to be seen.
But the overall effects are already obvious. Tottenham are winning the ball back more effectively and showing more teeth across the pitch. Bentancur has certainly helped to inject this nasty streak. However, there are still those who aren’t fully convinced by him.
It should not be forgotten that he had been part of the problem before his injury. Under Frank, Bentancur did not show enough for the ball, which affected how Spurs built up. He was not progressive enough in possession, while he was also found wanting defensively.
Undoubtedly a clever player with good technique, Bentancur is a good squad option at the very least. But supporters seemingly still can’t shake the feeling that he will tumble back down the pecking order once Spurs, as expected, splash the cash on a new midfielder.
For now, De Zerbi must get the most out of the resources available to him. He has, after all, had less than a month with the squad, no time at all to enact a revolution. That has allowed Spurs’ most experienced players, such as Bentancur, to take on a brand new lease of life.
Decisions over transfers will have to wait until the summer. First, he must lead Tottenham to safety with just four games remaining. Stability has been the main objective since his arrival, and that all starts from how the tempo is controlled at the heart of his midfield.
On that front, against all the odds, Bentancur is impressing.
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