‘Way more ability’: Jermaine Jenas suggests Antonio Conte’s tactics are holding back £20m Tottenham player

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Jermaine Jenas suggested on BT Sport last night that Antonio Conte’s tactics are holding back Rodrigo Bentancur at Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs picked up a vital three points in the Champions League last night as they beat Eintracht Frankfurt 3-2 in what was a thrilling affair in north London.

Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son stole the show as their goals handed Spurs an all important win.

The lethal duo combined once again for Son’s equaliser in the 20th minute after Antonio Conte’s men had gone behind. Spurs scored three goals in 16 minutes and their attacking quality was on display in the first-half.

But Jenas was particularly impressed with Bentancur’s energy and pressing in the Tottenham midfield.

Conte’s tactics holding Bentancur back

Speaking on BT Sport’s coverage of the game, Jenas highlighted the £20 million Spurs man’s pressing in the ninth minute. 

“I have to say, I really like the approach that Bentancur has had to this game. He’s releasing himself to go and press,” he said.

“He was trying to play a ball forward there and gave it away but went to retrieve it quickly. He’s got a real spring in his step tonight.”

But the former Spurs midfielder feels that Conte’s 3-4-3 system is actually holding Bentancur back.

“He did it a bit against Brighton at the weekend [driving forward] but that was because [Yves] Bissouma was in there as part of a three,” he added.

“He’s got way more ability than I think sometimes the system allows from him.”

Bentancur once again put in an excellent shift in central midfield for Conte’s men last night.

The Italian’s system has come under scrutiny in recent weeks, particularly after a disappointing defeat against Arsenal.

This led to Conte switching to a 3-5-2 against Brighton and his side looked much more commanding in the middle of the park as a result.

But Spurs were dominant last night while playing the usual 3-4-3 system and looked more like the side they were at the end of last season.

Bentancur certainly has more freedom to go and press higher up the pitch while playing in a midfield three. But the Uruguayan showed last night that he can still display this side of his game in a midfield two.