After Tottenham Hotspur FC drew 1-1 with Manchester United FC in Premier League Round 6, Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi held a press conference to answer questions from the media. He discussed the team's performance in the draw while playing with 10 men, Rodrigo Bentancur's red card, Dominic Solanke's role as captain and his goal, and the upcoming training camp and trip to Spain to build team cohesion.

Reporter: Do you think the final result you got was fair, or should you have gotten more?

De Zerbi: Without doubt, we shouldn't have lost this match. In the first half, we should have been leading by one or two goals. In the second half, we played on the back foot, especially early on, but we also had excellent chances five minutes and even two minutes before conceding.

After going down to 10 men, the whole team responded perfectly, and we played very well. I think we've been playing well during this period, not just today but also in the matches before visiting Manchester United.

But today's match was special. It was the first time this season we showed what a real team looks like. We fought for our teammates. The entire squad was united firmly, and we believed we could take points until the final whistle.

We remained focused on the competition itself in every situation, attacking as a team and defending as a team, which shows the right qualities of a team on the football pitch.

Reporter: What's your view on the red card? What did you say to Rodrigo Bentancur after the match?

De Zerbi: I kissed Rodrigo and thanked him because it's clear that Rodrigo made a mistake, right? On the football pitch, that's not a reasonable reaction at all.

But what Tottenham Hotspur needs most right now is to spark this fighting spirit and this kind of reaction. Sometimes this reaction might not be elegant, and it was detrimental to the team at that moment. But I think as we had fewer players, we played with much more courage and explosive power, which then turned the game around again.

It's been a long time since Tottenham Hotspur showed this fighting spirit and personality. Now that I'm the head coach here, I want to see this fighting spirit in every match.

Manchester United showed their strength in the second half too, and it's not just individual skill. We can't win matches on skill alone. We'll win more matches and score more goals only when we combine skill, strong character, and a fighting spirit full of passion.

Reporter: How important was that goal for Dominic Solanke, who was also your captain today?

De Zerbi: Regarding the captain's armband, he deserved it today. Previously, because Tottenham Hotspur wasn't winning or scoring, people started questioning: "Who is Tottenham's striker? Dominic Solanke isn't good enough." He may have faced unfair criticism.

Not at all. Dominic Solanke can perform excellently. For me, he's our best striker. In terms of overall ability, he's an extremely complete player with composure and outstanding character.

Physically, he needs to find his best condition, but he's an excellent player. I made him captain to show my trust and his irreplaceable role in this squad.

Reporter: What does that goal mean for Dominic?

De Zerbi: It's very important, and it was an excellent goal. If you compare and analyze his movement in the penalty area when he scored today with his performance in the penalty area in our home match against Aston Villa previously, you'll see a completely different body language and a fighting spirit stronger than ever before. We need this Dominic Solanke because he's the one who can make a decisive impact on this team.

Reporter: The team is traveling to Spain this week after players return from international duty. Is this an opportunity for everyone to bond more closely?

De Zerbi: Yes, because we need to build a real team. The current goal is to build a team, not just assemble a collection of players. We have an exceptionally talented squad, but we haven't yet become a fully formed team. In today's match, we finally showed what a team should be like.

Being a team means fighting for your teammates, sharing difficulties and good moments, and moving forward together. Whether a player only plays five minutes or three minutes as a substitute, like Matheus Fernandes, they must show the same fighting spirit as the starting eleven and give their full effort without distraction. We must balance confidence with a desire to win on the pitch, always hungry in training and competition.

Reporter: Is it important that everyone comes together to build friendship and get to know each other?

De Zerbi: It's very important to come together closely, to train together, live together, eat together, and understand each other more deeply. To be a real team, you must understand your teammates deeply and be united as one.

Reporter: Yesterday you said you hoped to see new players like Tonali and Savio perform at a higher level. Did you see that today?

De Zerbi: I think the whole team played well. Senesi and Van Hecke both performed excellently. Of course, we can play better. We can be sharper in attack and better organized in transitions in midfield, especially in the first half. If we can maintain better tactical discipline on the pitch, we should create more excellent chances.

Savio is a rare talent, but he's still very young. He needs to take the next step in his career because everyone knows the enormous potential he has. He needs to continue training hard and develop himself constantly like a star player.

Reporter: What else can you do when you repeatedly break into the opposition's attacking third and create chances but can't always convert them into goals?

De Zerbi: I believe in the neutral law of football. If you consistently create goal-scoring opportunities, if you train diligently and enter matches with sufficient intensity, combined with the clear individual ability of the players, I believe goals and big victories will come sooner or later. If we lose our passion and fighting spirit due to temporary defeats, we'll never be able to compete at a higher level.

Reporter: Going back to the red card, how can you ensure that players show the strength you want while strictly following the rules of the game? Because today's red card was a clear mistake and could have directly led to the team losing the match.

De Zerbi: In our recent home match, due to Van de Ven's injury, we conceded within one minute of playing with 10 men. After the match, we spent a lot of time discussing how to be stronger when playing with 10 men because in a match, playing with fewer players can happen in one minute or it can take 45 or even 60 minutes. And even with fewer players, you can still fight for victory, you can still score against your opponent. It depends on attitude, fighting spirit, determination, and passion within the players. I think today's red card completely sparked the team's comeback.

Reporter: Considering the reaction of the fans, players, and yourself, do you think this could be a turning point for the team this season? To clear away all the negative cloud and for everyone to unite and move forward again?

De Zerbi: Yes, I'm pleased with the team's performance. I'm satisfied with the tactical quality the team displayed, especially in the first half and the second half as well. In the second half, I was particularly pleased with the team's coordinated defending, where everyone gritted their teeth and endured the pressure together. Considering this was an away match at Old Trafford, we didn't give the opposition many goal-scoring opportunities.

I'm very pleased to see this recovery, including the reaction of the entire squad, including Rodrigo Bentancur. Now we must respond. We cannot accept mediocrity, and we cannot dwell on disappointment from results. We must recover strongly in every aspect to improve our results, climb the league table, and restore the glory of this great club.

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