Tottenham loanee Nabil Bentaleb had a bad weekend in the Bundesliga.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Nabil Bentaleb
On loan Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Nabil Bentaleb had a difficult weekend for Schalke in the Bundesliga.
He made a goal costing error which turned the game in the 2-1 defeat to Hoffenheim, after a poorly executed backpass was caught out.
Everton’s Muhamed Besic (L) in action with Tottenham’s Nabil Bentaleb
His mistake was highlighted by the German media, and also drew criticism from both his club manager and captain.
Kicker‘s match report reads ‘Rupp profits from Bentaleb’s mistake’, while BILD reported Bentaleb’s error as a ‘hair raising backpass’.
Pressure is growing on Schalke’s management after the defeat, with channel Sport1 reporting a ‘Schalke crisis’ facing director sporting Christian Heidel.
Manager Markus Weinzierl told the channel, referring to his players, “Each game has a unique error and of course that is negligence”.
Markus Weinzierl, Schalke 04 manager
Bentaleb’s error also drew comments from club captain Benedikt Howedes, who told BILD: “If we make such mistakes, you can not win games.”
A week earlier former Spurs midfielder Benjamin Stambouli had made a similar mistake for Schalke in the loss to Hertha Berlin.
Bentaleb also made an error in that game for another goal, prompting Weinzierl to call them out, telling Der Westen there was perhaps ‘a little bit of arrogance there because they were two players that had been previously praised.'”
Bentaleb had made a strong early impression to his loan spell, but over the past fortnight it has not gone to plan.
A lack of regular playing time at Tottenham could be part of the reason behind his rustiness, but he will have to shake off the errors and start keeping possession better if he is to hold down his place in the Schalke side.
Tottenham’s Nabil Bentaleb
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