Tottenham’s midfield was undoubtedly their strength in the opening weeks of the 2023/24 season but it would later become their weakness in the second half of the campaign. Seeing James Maddison, Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma flourish alongside each other as Ange Postecoglou’s team made an incredible start to the term, the trio unfortunately couldn’t maintain their levels after the turn of the calendar year.
The ankle injury Maddison sustained in the 4-1 defeat to Chelsea certainly impacted his form upon his return in January and Bissouma wasn’t helped by a stop-start campaign due to various suspensions and his Africa Cup of Nations appearance . Sarr’s performance levels were not quite the same after his comeback from AFCON, with the midfielder perhaps feeling the effects of consistent Premier League football for the first time in his young career.
Tottenham also didn’t quite see the best of Rodrigo Bentancur in the 2023/24 season, which was perhaps no surprise after so long on the sidelines working his way back to fitness from the ACL injury he suffered at Leicester City in February 2023. The 2024/25 campaign was always viewed as the season when the Uruguayan would hit his stride once again and prove to be a pivotal figure in the middle of the park.
Bentancur has certainly given Tottenham fans something to look forward to after a very positive display in the second half of last Saturday’s 3-2 pre-season defeat against Bayern Munich. Only linking up with the rest of the Tottenham squad at the beginning of the week following his time at the Copa America this summer, the ex-Juventus man looked like he had not been away with a strong showing.
Certainly sharp and there with his fitness following his time with his international teammates in the United States in June and early July, the fact he only started two of his country’s six games means he is also relatively fresh and raring to go heading into the new campaign. In the defeat to Bayern, the 27-year-old utilised the ball extremely well and was a calming influence in the middle as he ensured Tottenham kept possession after their first-half troubles .
Bentancur looked sharper than he has done for a long time in a Tottenham shirt, which perhaps bodes well for the season ahead. Tottenham fans certainly picked up on his performance and no doubt Postecoglou did as well.
