‘It won’t make the paper headlines, but Ben and Rodrigo – outstanding!’ – Maddison
Sat 25 January 2025, 12:00|
Tottenham Hotspur
While it was an outstanding team effort, James Maddison took his opportunity to single out the incredible endeavours of Ben Davies and Rodrigo Bentancur on Thursday night after we prevailed 3-2 over TSG Hoffenheim.
Out on German soil in the penultimate game of our Europa League League Phase campaign, we were both looking to end a difficult run of results in the Premier League and improve our position in the European rankings with victory at the PreZero Arena. But that is far easier said than done.
While we were taking on a Hoffenheim side who have struggled for form as of late, we were contending with a number of injuries in the squad (10), and our squad was further hit by another four players ineligible to play in the match.
And that is without mentioning the challenge of winning away in Europe. We had win just one of our previous away outings in Europe this term – that being October’s trip to Ferencvaros. You would have to go back to Marselle (UCL) in November, 2022, and AC Wolfsberger (UCL) in February, 2021, for previous such successes. That is just how hard it is to win away in Europe.
Yet, we were boosted this week with the return of both Ben and Rodrigo and Madders couldn't praise the duo enough as they put their bodies on the line once again to help see us through to victory.
Ben and Rodrigo tonight... Rodrigo got every second ball. It will go unnoticed. It won’t make the paper headlines... outstanding!
“The gaffer always mentions it,” James said as the challenge of winning away in Europe was discussed. “He always says, ‘check out how many teams win away in Europe’.
“On Wednesday night, in the Champions League, I think there was one in the whole fixture list. Every time, he’s right; very few teams win away. That’s our second away win in four. It’s not easy.
“We went through adversity. From minute 50 to 75, we were camped in a bit, the lads were a bit tired and we struggled to get out to the ball. They were overloading wide and getting crosses in. But you just have to stand strong and defend.
“Ben Davies tonight... You talk about leaders. Ben Davies and Rodrigo (Bentancur) tonight... Rodrigo got every second ball. It will go unnoticed. It won’t make the paper headlines - me and Sonny scoring probably will because we scored and that’s how it works in football - but Rodrigo and Ben, winning duels, winning headers, leading us when me and Sonny had gone off... outstanding. It was a great team effort.”
