Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi revealed he "kissed" Rodrigo Bentancur in the dressing room after the Uruguayan midfielder received a red card for headbutting Luke Shaw during Tottenham's match against Manchester United. Despite going down to 10 men, Spurs fought back to earn a 1-1 draw with a stoppage-time equaliser from captain Dominic Solanke. De Zerbi defended Bentancur's actions, stating the team needed that type of "reaction" and "character" to avoid accepting defeat.
He praised the squad's spirit and resilience, saying they showed they are a team for the first time this season by dominating large parts of the game and suffering through adversity. De Zerbi added that if Tottenham can consistently produce performances like the one at Old Trafford, they will "win many games." He emphasized that football requires character and that the team must react in all ways possible, even if the method isn't ideal.
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing