Tottenham Hotspur faced another setback in their Premier League campaign, succumbing to a 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa on Sunday.
This marked their third consecutive league defeat, sending shockwaves through a season that had begun with promise.
Spurs started off the season in terrific manner, remaining unbeaten for 10 matches, winning eight and drawing two.
But the Chelsea game proved to be the turning point for them with injuries and setbacks plaguing their progress.
And they suffered yet another setback during their defeat to Villa. Uruguayan midfielder Bentancur, making his first start since February, fell victim to a harsh tackle by Matty Cash, resulting in an ankle injury that forced his substitution.
He joins a growing list including key players like James Maddison and Micky van de Ven, sidelining them until 2024.
Following the match, Tottenham’s manager expressed dismay over Bentancur’s injury, criticising the tackle and lamenting the club’s ongoing injury crisis. He said:
Asked about the Bentancur injury, he said (via Evening Standard):
“Not sure. It’s his ankle, I think. It wasn’t a great tackle. I thought he started the game so well.”
“That’s the last thing we need — another injury. We’ve got eight [players injured], Bentancur nine. We lost Ashley Phillips in the week as well. It’s just the situation we’re in at the minute.”
Despite the defeat, Tottenham put in an impressive performance, with an unfortunate scoreline that failed to mirror their efforts.
Both teams created numerous opportunities, but Spurs were left frustrated with disallowed goals, missed chances, and Aston Villa’s goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez, making remarkable saves to deny them.
