14 February 2023 , 23:00
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Rio Ferdinand tipped Tottenham to turn their Champions League fate around in their two-legged contest clash against AC Milan - by calling on a player who won't play again this season.
Rodrigo Bentancur is ruled out for the remainder of the campaign after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury during Saturday's 4-1 defeat by Leicester. The Uruguayan has established himself as one of the most important players in Antonio Conte's system this term, which is why news of his season-ending injury was such a blow.
It was news that clearly failed to reach Ferdinand, however, with the former Manchester United man insisting all will be okay for Spurs following their 1-0 defeat by Milan at the San Siro, so long as they have their crocked midfielder lining up for them less than a month after enduring one of the worst injuries a professional athlete can suffer.
Asked how he thinks Tottenham will feel after a second successive defeat, Ferdinand told BT Sport : "I think Spurs will be the more confident team going into the second leg."
Elaborating as to why, he then made the error of mentioning Bentancur as an option Conte could call upon when Milan roll into town next month.
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"Home tie, at their home ground, you’d like to think they’ve got the two big players in their midfield - Bentancur and [Pierre-Emile] Hojbjerg - back in, experienced and know their way around the pitch.
Rodrigo Bentancur will miss the rest of the season - unbeknownst to Rio FerdinandHAVE YOUR SAY! Who will progress into the last eight - Milan or Tottenham? Comment below
"With that little bit more steel and grit in there, and the ability to unlock teams, I think Conte will be a bit confident going into the game."
There will be 50% less steel and grit than Ferdinand is expecting and one of Oliver Skipp or Pape Matar Sarr will line-up alongside Hojbjerg for the second-leg.
It's not as if Spurs had tried their best to keep news of Bentancur's injury hidden, they released a club statement on the matter 24 hours before Ferdinand's comments.
It read: "We can confirm that Rodrigo Bentancur has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and will be out of action for the remainder of the campaign. The midfielder will undergo surgery before beginning his rehabilitation with our medical staff."
Spurs are also without Yves Bissouma who has suffered an ankle injury and may not return this season.
Meanwhile, Brahim Diaz's seventh minute header from close range was enough to separate the sides at what is half-time of the tie, though Conte's men can consider themselves fortunte Milan aren't already out of sight.
The hosts spurned a number of glorious opportunities in the second half that could have seen Stefano Piloi's side secure their place in the last eight in the first leg and rest some key players for the trip to North London on March 8.