MusaRoberto De Zerbi has praised Tottenham Hotspur’s performance and fighting spirit after Dominic Solanke scored a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser to secure a 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The Italian manager was speaking after watching his side battle back from a goal down despite being reduced to 10 men during Saturday’s Premier League encounter. Solanke’s late header ensured Tottenham left Manchester with a valuable point, with Sandro Tonali providing the cross that led to the equaliser following his big-money summer arrival from Newcastle United.
Speaking to Sky Sports, as reported by football.london, De Zerbi expressed his satisfaction with the performance, insisting Tottenham had created enough opportunities to take control of the game before the break.
“I think we played very well against a great team,” De Zerbi said. “We had many chances to score in the first half. Three or four. The second half is normal to suffer against this quality. I am very happy because I have seen the right spirit and character.”
Manchester United had taken the lead in the 73rd minute when Matheus Cunha picked out Bryan Mbeumo inside the penalty area, allowing the forward to put the home side ahead.
However, Tottenham’s task became considerably more difficult five minutes later when substitute Rodrigo Bentancur received a straight red card for thrusting his head towards Luke Shaw during a confrontation between the two players.
Despite Bentancur’s dismissal, De Zerbi refused to condemn the midfielder harshly. Instead, the Spurs manager revealed that he had personally shown his support for the player while acknowledging that his reaction was unacceptable.
“I kissed Rodrigo, and I said thanks, because it’s clear it’s a mistake from Rodrigo, because it’s not the right reaction in football, but now Tottenham needs to react,” the Italian explained.
De Zerbi admitted that although Bentancur had made the wrong decision, the incident appeared to inspire his remaining players to respond with greater determination.
“Sometimes the reactions are not nice, not positive for the team, but I think in that moment, in 10 players, maybe we played with more courage, we played with more energy, and we changed the game.
“For a long time Tottenham played without this blood, this character, and I want it. Now I am the coach, and I want to see this character every game.”
De Zerbi Explains Why Solanke Was Made Tottenham Captain
Solanke was handed the captain’s armband for the encounter, with De Zerbi revealing that the decision was intended to demonstrate his confidence in the striker following the criticism he has received over his performances.
The Tottenham forward has faced questions about his ability to lead the club’s attack, particularly during a difficult period when the team struggled to score goals and secure positive results.
However, De Zerbi believes Solanke has the qualities required to succeed at the highest level and insisted that the criticism directed towards him has been excessive.
“He deserves to be a captain today, because he suffered maybe too much, because ‘Tottenham didn’t win, Tottenham didn’t score, who is the striker of Tottenham? Solanke is not good enough’, it’s not true,” De Zerbi said.
“Solanke is good enough to play, maybe he is the best striker for us, because of his qualities. He is a complete player, he is a good guy, he has personality.
“After the last game, the criticism, I wanted to put him as captain, to show my confidence and the confidence of the team, because all the other players were happy when I said that Domi Solanke is captain.”
The manager’s decision ultimately proved rewarding, as Solanke stepped up when Tottenham needed him most by finding the net in the closing stages to deny Manchester United all three points.
De Zerbi Believes Tottenham Finally Played Like a Team
Beyond the result, De Zerbi was particularly encouraged by the collective performance and determination shown by his players throughout the contest.
The Italian felt Tottenham had been the better side during the first half and argued that they could easily have gone into the break with a two-goal advantage.
He also described the performance as a significant moment in the club’s campaign, suggesting it was the first time this season that his players had demonstrated the togetherness and commitment he expects from them.
“For sure, we didn’t deserve to lose the game, we deserved to be one, two goals up in the first half,” he explained.
“Today has been the game where, for the first time this season, we showed we are a team. We played for our team-mates, we played together, we believed until the end of the game.”
The late equaliser was therefore more than just a point gained at Old Trafford for De Zerbi. It offered encouragement that Tottenham could begin to develop the resilience and unity required to improve their performances in the coming weeks.
Tottenham Head to Marbella as De Zerbi Targets Greater Unity
Tottenham will now travel to Marbella for a training camp, with De Zerbi hoping the time away will help strengthen the relationships between his players and accelerate the process of building a more cohesive side.
Although the manager acknowledged the quality within his squad, he made it clear that having talented individuals was not enough to guarantee success without a strong collective identity.
De Zerbi wants his players to spend more time working together, sharing experiences and developing a better understanding of one another, both on and off the pitch.
“Now the target is to build the team, not the group of players. We have a great group of players but we are not a team yet,” he said.
“Work together, stay together, have dinner together and get to know each other better.”
The draw against Manchester United could provide Tottenham with an important foundation to build upon. After showing the determination to fight back with 10 men, De Zerbi will hope his players can carry that mentality into their upcoming fixtures and turn their improved spirit into more consistent results.
Musa
