Ange Postecoglou provides update on Rodrigo Bentancur after ‘worrying’ incident | OneFootball

Ange Postecoglou provided an update on midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur after he was forced off the pitch during Tottenham Hotspur’s Carabao Cup semi-final with Liverpool with a suspected head injury.

Tottenham won the first corner of the game in the seventh minute and as the ball was swung into the penalty area, Bentancur launched himself at it in the hopes of heading the ball towards goal.

He missed and landed hard on the ground seemingly knocking his head on the turf. The midfielder lay still as the set piece played out before his teammates urgently called for the medical team to intervene.

Bentancur was stretchered off the pitch and taken to hospital with his manager confirming that he was conscious despite the ‘worrying’ incident.

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Postecoglou said: “Obviously I don’t have all the information but my understanding is that he is conscious and was conscious in the dressing room. We took him to hospital to get checked over. It is worrying and always a concern but from what I know at this stage hopefully he’ll be okay.

“We’re having to deal with adversity all of the time. We started the game awfully well, almost scoring before that moment and then we lose a key player in those circumstances. This lot are nothing if not resilient, they just keep going and they did today.”

Following the incident the match was halted and a stoppage lasted around eight minutes with the midfielder seemingly able to communicate with the medical professionals whilst on the ground.

A stretcher was brought onto the pitch and Bentancur was covered in a blanket as he was carried off the field in the 15th minute. He wore a neck brace and was immediately taken into the tunnel after being removed from the pitch to a round of applause from both sets of fans.

The midfielder was treated by doctors in the dressing room at half-time before being taken to hospital for further checks. Tottenham later confirmed that he was ‘conscious and talking’ in a statement.

Bentancur also suffered a head injury in August last year following a clash of heads with Leicester City’s Abdul Fatawu.

Brennan Johnson was brought on to replace him as Spurs looked to overcome Liverpool and take the advantage in this two-legged semi-final tie.