It is 17 years ago that Tottenham claimed silverware for the last time, but Rodrigo Bentancur knows the feeling well. He reached double digits for trophies with Boca Juniors and Juventus. Now he hopes that his experience will help traces across the line in the Europa League.
He has certainly played his role so far. Bentancur is a cool head in midfield that brings tenacity and calmness, Bentancur was the key during their run to the last four. They need his know -how again in the semi -final second stage against Bodo/Glimt.
“We talked about age and the number of games played,” says the Uruguay International, which has already delivered more than 400 senior performances for Club and Country at the age of 27.
“Above everything I try to share my experiences with the younger players. I have moments on the field where I get angry, but I am a very calm person and player and I try to enjoy the moment.
“It is my first European semi -final, so it's also my first time, but I will try to enjoy it to the maximum and I will try to transfer the experiences I have at other clubs to my younger teammates.
“Above all, I will tell them to enjoy it. These moments are unique and they pass very quickly, so try to do the best you can. If you are happy and focused, things will be good for you.”
It is not easy for Spurs to maintain happiness and focus during a hugely disappointing inland season. But their Europa League campaign has given respite. Bentancur insists that Ange Postecoglou and his players have closed the external sound.
“The manager has a very calm personality, like me,” he says. “He tries to be very close to us, to transfer his calmness to the players and to ensure that we play the game he wants, what I believe we did and do it very well. So go to their stadium and be aggressive with our urgent, especially high on the field.
“It will be a new experience, at an artificial pitch, but the manager is calm and we have created a bubble, united, happy and satisfied and approaching the game in the best possible way.”
Spurs are in a strong position to continue to the final after their 3-1 win from the first legs in London, but Bentancur would like to emphasize that winning the competition would not make them complacent about the need for great improvement in the interior.
“It has not been a good season,” he says. “That is reflected in our results and in the table. It is not what we wanted. It was not the goal at the start of the season.” What does he put it on? “We have had periods with many injuries when players had to play many games successively without any alternatives that are available,” he adds.
“Those players were doing very well, but that is one of the big reasons why it has been a difficult season. It doesn't feel right because it makes you think that you do not give your best level for the team individually. But the situations with injuries have influenced many things.
“Our goals have now changed. With the Europa League to play for, the manager has decided to make many changes for the Premier League matches.” There were eight against West Ham on Sunday, with Bentancur under the rest. “But we know it wasn't a good season,” he continues. “We are very clear about that.
“We know that if we want to be up to the top teams, we have to try to compete in all competitions and be at our best in all.
“We also know that we have to change things next season, but we will have time to think about it. At the moment we are very focused on the game on Thursday. You are not playing a lot of semi -final in a football career. We have to give our best to bring happiness for the fans because I believe they deserve it.”
Can Spurs do it without mountain Vall, Maddison?
Their task is made harder by seasonal injuries to Lucas Bergvall and James Maddison, whose absences Bentancur leave even more responsibility. Not that he sees it when he tells the quality of their potential replacements in midfield.
“We have players who can play the same role as Lucas, such as Bissou [Yves Bissouma] When he played with me in the first stage, “says Bentancur.” He had an exceptional game and he was also incredible at the weekend.
“Then Kulu [Dejan Kulusevski] Has played many times in the role that Maddison plays, and I have sometimes done it.
“So we have players who can do it. Of course it is a shame that they miss the game because you do not play a European semi -final every year. But we will try to win it for them because they have done their best for the team all year round.
“We feel sad for them, but the group is doing well, very focused, very dedicated and is really looking forward to Thursday. We take it very seriously and with the personality you need against one side such as Bodo, who has a great team and have shown that during their Europa League campaign.
“They also showed it against us here. They played well. We are going to give them the respect they deserve, but we are going there to win the game.”
Spurs should really be out of sight after a dominant first legs, but the late goal of Bodo/Glimt in the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has given them a lifeline and they also have the advantage of their artificial pitch. The Kjetil Knutsen side has won this season, one after all seven Europa League matches.
Spurs chose not to train on their own artificial pitches on Hotspur Way in preparation for the game, instead to make plans to train on the surface itself after arriving on Wednesday in Norway.
“It's a change, it's different, but these things occur in football,” says Bentancur. “It is not as if we have never played at artificial pitches before. You lose the habit a bit, but it is normal.
“They have done very well in Europe and in their domestic competition. They are very good at home, but they have also omitted it from home. So we will not underestimate them. But we will go there to play our game and produce our best performance.”
Will they allow themselves to think about what could come, with a place in the final at stake? “When we talked about goals at the start of the season, one of them was to win this competition, but I don't want to lead ourselves,” says Bentancur.
“Thursday is our biggest competition of the season. I believe we deserve to be in the final, we as a team and the fans, so we are going to do everything to achieve it.”