Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has given an injury update on Uruguayan midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur.
The 26-year-old, who has battled fitness issues for most of the season, returned to the starting lineup for Spurs against Aston Villa. He was forced off after 32 minutes, however, putting an end to his short stint back from his last injury.
Spurs, who are a severely depleted side at the moment, would go on to lose the match by two goals to one in front of their own fans. A number of opinions have since been shared on the Australian’s tactics for the game but fans are more worried about the new injury suffered by a key player.
The North London side will go to the Etihad to face defending champions Manchester City with a thin squad next week. The danger of their great start to life in 2023/24 crumbling before their eyes has gotten more vivid with Bentancur’s latest issue.
“It is his ankle I think. It wasn’t a great tackle,” Spurs manager Postecoglou said in his post-match press conference.
“I thought he started the game so well and I think it was the reason we got a real good foothold on the game. He’s such a creative player.
“It’s the last thing we needed, another injury. So disappointed to lose him but we’re yet to see the extent of it.”
Tottenham Hotspur’s squad is so thin that Postecoglou had only eight players on the bench, two of whom were goalkeepers. Bentancur’s diagnosis now means the number of available outfield players could reduce further, except the manager looks at the club’s academy for possible replacements.
“We have got eight [injuries], Bentancur nine, we had a couple of suspensions today and we’ve only got a squad of 25. You do the sums and that’s what we’ve got,” the former Celtic manager added.
“We lost Ashley Phillips during the week as well. It is just the situation we’re in at the moment, but we’ll get through it.
“It might take a little while, but we’ll get through it and as long as we show the same intent and play the football we did today, I’ve got no doubt when we come out the other side, we’ll be a very good football team.”
Postecoglou praised his team for their performance in the game, however, despite the loss to Villa.
“I thought we played some fantastic football and on another day we’d have probably won the game comfortably,” he said. “I can’t fault the effort, the intent and everything they put into the game.
“There’s no frustration. We played well and as a manager that’s all you can ask for.
“Sometimes the outcomes don’t go the way you want but as a manager you’re looking for how the players are committed to what we’re trying to do and they were totally committed to it today.”
