After Daniel Levy's departure was confirmed in the wake of the summer transfer window, some supporters, having celebrated the exit of a perceived tyrant, must've veered into a realm of existential doubt.
What now? Who can we blame for our failings? A new scapegoat had to emerge.
A hierarchical reshuffle means little is known about the new higher-ups in N17, and a fresh project should offer Thomas Frank some breathing room from mass scrutiny. However, the Dane came close to turning heads for all the wrong reasons against Chelsea on Saturday.
Spurs have been productive at the start of Frank's reign, but watchability has been an issue. Some of the performances have been particularly drab, as bad as we've seen in years, and the majority decided to place blame upon Frank's selection of Rodrigo Bentancur alongside summer arrival João Palhinha in midfield as the root of all evil.
Together, the pair worked well in the UEFA Super Cup and the impressive 2-0 win over Manchester City. But Frank's persistent usage of the partnership has been deemed emblematic of the manager's caution. Most are happy with Palhinha because of his defensive output, and perhaps it's the shiny new toy syndrome which has seen Bentancur catch most of the flak for Spurs' inability to shift possession from defence to attack.
But the Uruguayan can still play. His performance against Copenhagen proved that.
Rodrigo Bentancur is still good... when he doesn't play with João Palhinha
After Saturday's dire defeat to Chelsea, during which the Blues ruthlessly exposed Spurs' limitations in possession with a Bentancur x Palhinha pivot.
So, Frank opted to change tack on Tuesday night. In came Pape Matar Sarr for Palhinha, and Spurs produced their most fluid and efficient work in possession all season.
The issue isn't Bentancur or Palhinha individually, but the partnership simply doesn't work. Well, it has its place for specialised circumstances, but how can you explain Bentancur's sudden reversion to his 2022/23 Lilywhite apex just three evenings removed from a performance where Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher later accused him of lacking the "courage" to get on the ball?
" I don't think Bentancur has given the ball away once tonight."TNT Sports commentator Darren Fletcher
He recorded a season-high 78 touches against Copenhagen, and one of his five ball recoveries led to the opening goal. Overall, Bentancur performed with an assurance that has often eluded him since his injuries. He was confident and assertive, in contrast to Saturday.
We are delighted to announce that Rodrigo Bentancur has signed a new, long-term contract with the Club ✍️
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 3, 2025
We know Bentancur can be a progressive force in the middle of the park. He's technically good enough to be the man who unlocks Xavi Simons ahead of him, but performing alongside Palhinha, who's brilliant at what he does, only seems to inhibit the Uruguayan. Together, they exacerbate each other's flaws, but, as I've alluded to, there will be times when the partnership makes sense.
The Portuguese's arrival on Tuesday offered greater security with a man disadvantage, and Spurs subsequently scored twice. Palhinha completed the rout by rounding off an utterly bizarre counter-attacking sequence that was led by Cristian Romero.
Simons' excellent hour earned him Player of the Match honours, but Bentancur was perhaps more deserving for returning to his elegant best. A new contract means the Uruguayan will be sticking around for a little while longer, and the midfielder proved against Copenhagen that he can thrive in a more dynamic framework.