‘For next year’ – Ange Postecoglou comments on Rodrigo Bentancur’s recovery at Tottenham

With injuries disrupting Rodrigo Bentancur’s season, you may have thought Ange Postecoglou would ease the midfielder back into action and not ask too much of him, but you’d be wrong.

On his day, Rodrigo Bentancur is arguably the best midfielder at Tottenham‘s disposal. It’s unfortunate, then, that the Uruguayan has spent so much of the last 12 months out injured.

After a fine run of form in the first half of last season, which saw Bentancur contribute six goals and two assists (Transfermarkt), his 2022/23 campaign was cut short by an ACL injury sustained in February of last year.

Expected to be out until late November, Bentancur was back in Ange Postecoglou‘s team by the end of October of last year. However, by the start of December, he had a tear in his ankle ligaments and missed a further six games.

Postecoglou is happy with Bentancur’s contributions

He has since started the last six games, but has been substituted off in all but one of those matches. Bentancur may be looking tired, but Postecoglou is not about to wrap the 26-year-old in cotton wool.

Speaking to the press (via Football.London), Postecoglou said: “I haven’t had to [manage his expecations] and I wouldn’t. It would be like someone trying to manage my expectations and I just don’t think that is my role.

“He sets very high standards and it is not just the absence. When he came back, I thought in the Villa game he was outstanding and then he gets a knock within 15 or 20 minutes and is out again.

“It’s been disruptive even with the absence he’s had, but I’ve been really happy with Rodri. Again, I guess people look at it through the prism of players should be playing all the time and influential all the time, but we’re trying to build a squad here.

“I’ve got no doubt that whatever Rodri does this year, and he’s already contributed, he’s creating a great foundation for us for next year. With the midfield set-up we’ve got at the moment, players we’ve got in there, it will be really exciting to see how they grow.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I think Bentancur does need a rest, and I hope he gets it this weekend. With Sarr, Bissouma, Skipp, and Hojbjerg, and potentially Lo Celso back, there is no reason to keep pushing Bentancur to start.

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