'I kissed Rodrigo and said thanks' – De Zerbi 'liked' Spurs red card

Roberto de Zerbi praises Rodrigo Bentancur after he was sent off in a 1-1 draw against Manchester United. Solanke scores in added time as 10-man Spurs draw with Man Utd Tottenham boss Roberto de Zerbi praised Rodrigo Bentancur after he was sent off in the 1-1 draw against Manchester United. The Uruguay midfielder was shown a red card for headbutting Luke Shaw during a feisty 78th-minute melee when Spurs were trailing 1-0 at Old Trafford. Despite being reduced to 10 men, Tottenham managed to salvage a point as Dominic Solanke headed home in the second minute of added time. Spurs remain winless in the Premier League this season after six games, but De Zerbi was thankful to Bentancur for providing a "spark" against United.

"I kiss Rodrigo and say thanks," De Zerbi said in his post-match press conference. "In that moment maybe with 10 players we played with more courage, more energy. "For a long time Tottenham played without this blood, this character." The incident happened when Shaw, on the receiving end of a reckless challenge by Bentancur, raced towards the Spurs player and shoved him off the pitch. Bentancur reacted by planting his head towards Shaw's face. The pair were separated by their team-mates before referee Stuart Attwell sent the substitute off. De Zerbi said it was a "mistake"