At a glance:
- Roberto De Zerbi has improved Tottenham
- Rodrigo Bentancur has stood out under him
- He has found his old form
Tottenham Hotspur have had an abysmal 2025-26 campaign after winning the UEFA Europa League last season.
They sacked Ange Postecoglou and hired Thomas Frank last summer, which turned out to be a huge mistake. They were eliminated from all cup competitions this season, and are currently battling relegation in the Premier League.
After sacking Frank and parting ways with Igor Tudor, they appointed Roberto De Zerbi. The Italian has completely transformed Spurs, and Rodrigo Bentancur has been at the heart of their revival.
Rodrigo Bentancur has been key for Tottenham this season
Frank preferred a midfield of Bentancur and Joao Palhinha at Tottenham. It led to a lot of criticism and backlash, as the duo failed to make an impact on any part of the game. They were poor in the build-up, while also failing to provide defensive solidity.
However, as expected, the same duo delivered an outstanding performance against Aston Villa last week under De Zerbi.
While Palhinha was excellent in defense, Bentancur impacted almost every phase of play. As he helped Spurs win 2-1 against Villa, an incredible statistic has surfaced showing his importance.
In their 35 Premier League games this season, Tottenham have played 23 with Bentancur, winning eight, losing eight, and drawing the other.
On the other hand, they have won just one of their 12 league games they have played without the Uruguayan, losing eight, and drawing three. Spurs have gained 1.35 ppg (points per game) with Bentancur and just 0.5 ppg without him.
Also Read: The 3 most improved Tottenham players under Roberto De Zerbi (Ranked)
The 28-year-old has featured in three games under De Zerbi, and Spurs have two wins and one draw in that period. It clearly shows his importance to the team, especially under the Italian.
Bentancur has found his old form back
Spurs signed Bentancur from Juventus in January 2022 under Antonio Conte. He instantly became an important player for the club, winning over the fans as well.
He used to dominate the midfield along with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in a two-man midfield system. His dribbling skills, ball-carrying, and tackling were a joy to watch.
The Uruguayan also delivered under Ange Postecoglou. He even played as a lone #6 behind James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, which led to Tottenham’s big wins over the likes of Manchester United and Aston Villa.
However, with multiple injury issues, he lost his form and wasn’t helped by Frank’s system this season.
Also Read: We might know why Roberto De Zerbi has sidelined Archie Gray at Tottenham
However, the Uruguayan has been revitalized under De Zerbi. According to Fotmob, he has garnered excellent ratings of 7.5, 7.7, and 7.6 in the last three games.
At 28, he is also one of the leaders in the dressing room. If he can continue this form, Bentancur will be a key player for De Zerbi, not just this season, but next season as well.
