Antonio Conte took over at Tottenham Hotspur last November and in his first window in January 2022, the Premier League side signed Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski.
The duo arrived at the north London club from Juventus at the start of this year and played a key role in helping Spurs finish in the top four last season.
This term, Kulusevski has struggled with an injury, while the midfielder has impressed for Tottenham.
The Uruguay international has managed three goals and two assists from 20 matches in all competitions. That includes a winner against AFC Bournemouth and an equaliser against Sporting.
Tuttosport made a trip to the English capital to sit down for an interview with the 25-year-old. He was honest in detailing the importance of Conte for him at Tottenham.
“You say I’m one of the best performers in my position? Thank you very much, but I don’t think I’m that special. The truth is that I am happy, very happy, very satisfied with what I am achieving with Tottenham. I’ve already scored three goals this season and we’re not even halfway through this championship,” Bentancur said.
“Now that the coach, the manager as they say here in England, Antonio, as our fans call him with great affection, has changed the system, focusing on a midfield with three midfielders, he asks me to push myself more consistently near the opposition area.
“The results are there for all to see: I think it’s a question of confidence, of self-confidence. When you feel that they believe in you without ifs and buts, you lose any kind of shyness and you try. Conte has carved out a role for me important in the team, I feel his confidence in every moment, in training and in the match.
“Then, of course, sometimes there are bad moments: it happens in any team, but on a personal level they are overwhelmed, I feel in a divine form and Conte has given me a fundamental role. I’ll do everything to make sure you never change your mind, I’ll do my best to continue like this.”
Tottenham have Harry Kane and Son Heung-min lead Spurs’ attack, and Bentancur has heaped praise on what the duo has to offer to the English club.
“Of course, playing with crazy forwards like Harry Kane or forward Son Heung-Min makes my task a lot easier. The truth is that, from the moment I set foot at Tottenham, the two of them amazed me: I knew they were very strong, but I didn’t think up to this point,” he explained.
“It’s one thing to see them on TV, another to share work with them during the week, the locker room, day after day. They’re monsters, total champions with the ball at their feet, but they’re also two simple guys and very, very helpful. I swear: they amazed me.”
The South American also discussed the spirit inside Tottenham and how the mentality has changed after Conte took charge of the club.
“The secret of this Tottenham? The mentality has changed: it is precisely on this aspect that Conte insisted, constantly hammering us,” Bentancur added.
“We must never give up, ever, until the referee whistles: we have learned the lesson perfectly and in fact several times this season we have achieved success in the last minutes of play, we have triumphed in 6 or 7 games scoring between 90th and 95th minute. As for me, I will continue to give 150% of my chances for the good of Tottenham, to help my teammates.”
