Ange on Bentancur - starting for Uruguay, fitness and his best position
Fri 24 November 2023, 16:05|
Tottenham Hotspur
Ange Postecoglou said Rodrigo Bentancur is closing in on a return to the starting line-up here at Spurs after doing exactly that for Uruguay in midweek.
Off the bench on 62 minutes as Uruguay stunned champions Argentina in World Cup qualifying on Friday, Rodrigo was back in the starting XI and played 86 minutes as La Celeste beat Bolivia 3-0 in Montevideo late on Tuesday evening. That was his first start since his cruciate ligament injury in February.
Speaking on Inside Spurs on Friday, ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash at home to Villa (2pm) Ange told us: "It was good for Rodrigo to get a start for his country. I know he was keen to get back with the national team. He's been building up slowly with us, had a bit of game time but starting for his country is good for him, good for us."
Rodri was outstanding in his first year at Spurs, before his injury, and we asked Ange what he'd made of the midfielder in his time here so far. "He's getting back to that sort of level," Ange said.
"He's obviously missed a lot of football, but he's a quality player, he's been working really hard with the medical team and sports science to get back involved and he's really keen to do that. We've taken all the right steps. He's had a couple of games with us, which is good and is getting closer to being part of the starting line-up and making an impact."
Asked further about Rodrigo in his pre-match press conference, Ange said: "The fact he got an opportunity to start is good for us - it gives him that confidence that he’s able to get through a game. That hasn’t happened with us but he’s increased his game time, so I’m assuming he’s come out of it with even more confidence about his game and where he’s at. And that’s good for us - it’s a positive."
Asked for his thoughts on his best position, Ange said: "The beauty of him is he can play a couple of different areas. I think he can play as a six, he can play further forward as an eight and he's even creative. I think he can score goals as well. We were kind of hoping with him, Madders, Pape, Biss and people like Pierre we were well stocked in that midfield area for different kinds of combinations, but obviously that has been disrupted a bit.
"The key for Rodrigo is to get him back to that level physically and mentally where he feels really comfortable about playing at this level. I don't think he is far off it from what I've seen and again certainly over the next few weeks he will get that opportunity."
