Roberto De Zerbi
Rodrigo Bentancur, the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder, has expressed his admiration for teammate Pedro Porro as the right-back approaches a significant milestone in his career. As Tottenham prepares to face Leeds, Porro is set to make his 150th appearance for the club. Bentancur also shared insights into the positive changes brought about by new head coach Roberto De Zerbi, who has been instrumental in revitalizing the team’s spirit and performance.
Rodrigo Bentancur said: “Pedro is a machine. 150 games is incredible and also a young player, you know, but I have a really good relationship with him. My family, with his family, we have barbecues at home on the children’s birthdays. He is a really good person and this is the most important thing for me. When I arrived here, he arrived after and we speak the same language, it felt really good. He is a top professional. He works very, very well every day here [at the training ground], at home, so he deserves this moment and he needs to enjoy it because he is still a young player and has a top future.”
Porro’s resilience and consistent performance have been a standout feature for Spurs, especially given the club’s injury woes in recent years. Since joining from Sporting Lisbon, Porro has missed only seven games due to injury, highlighting his durability and importance to the team. Bentancur, who will soon reach 145 matches for Tottenham, appreciates the significance of availability and the impact it has on team dynamics.
Rodrigo Bentancur continued: “He is passionate, you know. You can see the images from the last game [against Aston Villa]. Every tackle, every ball he wins, like [Joao] Palhinha, so we need this. In this moment, we need personality, attitude, so when he shows this for us, it’s really, really important.”
Bentancur also commented on the influence of Roberto De Zerbi, who has quickly instilled a new energy and mentality within the squad. The Italian head coach has focused on fostering a positive environment, which has been reflected in the team’s recent performances.
Rodrigo Bentancur added: “When Roberto came in, he tried to change the energy, the mentality, to feel again the positive things and he worked a lot on this. And I think we changed, the players changed, we understand the situation and after you’re back to winning games, the energy changed a lot and we feel really good.”
De Zerbi’s tactical approach has been well-received by the players, with Bentancur noting the emphasis on both offensive and defensive aspects of the game. The team has adapted to pressing high and playing with a calm demeanor when in possession, which was evident in their recent clash against Aston Villa.
Bentancur explained: “We enjoy it with the ball and the tactical aspect without the ball. We start now and now we work really well. You can see the last game against Villa, we pressed in high positions, we want to win the ball fast and then with the ball, Roberto wants to play calm.”
As Tottenham strives to climb the Premier League table, Bentancur remains optimistic about the team’s direction under De Zerbi’s leadership. The focus on maintaining high energy and tactical discipline will be crucial as they face the challenges ahead.
About The Author
