- Rodrigo Bentancur was knocked unconscious during Monday night’s match
- He needed long-term treatment and oxygen on the pitch after the head clash.
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Ange Postecoglou has provided an update on the condition of Rodrigo Bentancur after the Tottenham midfielder was knocked unconscious during his side’s 1-1 draw with Leicester City on Monday night.
The incident occurred with less than 20 minutes of play remaining at the King Power Stadium when Bentancur collided heads with Leicester’s Abdul Fatawu while looking to attack a corner and fell straight to the ground.
Bentancur, 27, was initially unresponsive as he lay on the pitch, sparking concern from both sets of players as medics rushed to the Uruguayan’s aid.
After more than seven minutes of treatment, Bentancur eventually came to but needed oxygen before being stretchered off and did not return to action as Postecoglou made a quadruple substitution. Speaking after the match, the Australian manager revealed that Bentancur was “up and talking” but was clearly still concerned about his player after the sickening clash of heads.
“We have to be very careful,” Postecoglou said. “The good news is that he was up and talking. We’ll let the medical team take care of that.”
Rodrigo Bentancur was knocked unconscious after a head clash, leaving both groups of players visibly concerned.
Bentancur needed oxygen on the pitch and was taken off on a stretcher after a long treatment.
Ange Postecoglou revealed Bentancur spoke after the game but admitted he needs to be “very careful” with the midfielder following his worrying head injury.
‘I don’t have a lot of information, but I know he’s awake and communicating, so he’s fine from that point of view.
“But he obviously has a head injury and I’ll leave it in the hands of the medical team now. The important thing is that he is definitely conscious and communicating.
“Whenever there’s a head injury and you see a player go down, I think nowadays we’re always cautious at that point and I don’t know the actual circumstances, but I know it was a head collision.”
Bentancur does not have fond memories of the King Power Stadium, having ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament at the same ground during a league game in February 2023 which kept him out for eight months.
He will hope this is a much less severe setback but now faces a race against time to return for Spurs’ next league game at home to Everton on Saturday afternoon.
The midfielder will have to undergo concussion tests before returning to Postecoglou’s squad, with Tottenham facing a quick recovery between games.
In Bentancur’s absence, Tottenham have been unable to find a winner and have failed to start their campaign with a win against their newly promoted opponents.
Pedro Porro put the visitors ahead early in the first half when he headed in James Maddison’s cross, but Tottenham failed to make the most of their dominance and were held back after the break when Jamie Vardy struck from close range to give the Foxes a point.
