‘I love that’… Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur did something ‘really interesting’ vs Brighton

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Alasdair Gold spotted a ‘really interesting’ moment between Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur during Tottenham Hotspur’s win over Brighton on Saturday.

The duo look set to battle it out for a place in Ange Postecoglou’s side over the coming weeks following Yves Bissouma’s return from AFCON 2024.

Rodrigo Bentancur got the nod on Saturday as he started alongside James Maddison and Pape Matar Sarr in the middle of the park.

It’s fair to say that the Uruguayan didn’t enjoy his best afternoon as he was caught on the ball on a few occasions in the first half. 

The 26-year-old gave the ball away on the edge of his box right before Micky van de Ven gave away a penalty in the 17th minute.

And after a disappointing half, it would appear that Bissouma was offering Bentancur some encouragement right before the second period.

Bissouma spotted giving Bentancur ‘pep talk’ during Spurs vs Brighton

Speaking in his latest YouTube video, Gold discussed a ‘really interesting’ moment between Bentancur and Bissouma at halftime.

“It was really interesting,” the Football.London journalist said. “As he came out for the second half, he was walking out of the tunnel with Yves Bissouma and Bissouma was really having this quite intense almost pep talk to him.

“He was really trying to build him up and as Bentancur went on the pitch, Bissouma shouted something at him as he went back to the dugout himself. I love that.”

Bentancur improved in the second half as Tottenham pushed for an equaliser. The goal eventually came from Sarr, but the move started with Bentancur carrying the ball up the pitch and finding Dejan Kulusevski out wide. 

The midfielder hasn’t been at his best in recent games and now faces added competition from the returning Bissouma.

But it’s brilliant to see the Mali international offering encouragement to his teammate during a difficult spell.

Bentancur has mainly been used as a No.6 under Postecoglou but his best performance arguably came in a more advanced role at Old Trafford last month.

Nevertheless, his patchy form shouldn’t exactly come as a surprise when you consider the fact he’s suffered two significant injuries in the past year.