As usual Sunday’s London derby between Chelsea and Tottenham live up to the hype and billing. Both Chelsea and Tottenham gave their fans a good game to enjoy.
The match was not just a battle between the eleven players on the pitch but the Managers on the touchline were also fiercely involved.
Antonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel had their first confrontation when Tottenham equalized. A goal Thomas Tuchel believes shows not had stand after Rodrigo Bentancur’s reckless rackle on Kai Havertz.
The two managers were also involved in another bust-up after the final whistle when the two managers want to exchange handshakes.
What did Thomas Tuchel say about the incident and the bust-up?
Speaking to reporters after the game, Thomas Tuchel explained: “I just compared it to two players who had a bit of fight on the field and nothing happens. Nobody gets injured and the players, if you have a hard tackle or fair tackle, if you don’t go and apologize, there’s no need.
“It’s Premier League football and the two managers got involved today because both of us were fighting for our teams. That was it, nobody got insulted, nobody got hurt, we didn’t have a fist fight or something.
“For me, it’s not a big deal. It was part of it today and it boiled of course and it featured us. Both are nothing bad. Today it was part of the ban.”
The Chelsea manager also revealed that he is yet to speak with Antonio Conte after the handshake which resulted in both managers being given a red card.
Thomas Tuchel revealed when asked if he has spoken with Antonio Conte since the incident: “Not yet. I don’t have any bad feelings and I’m sure he will not have. We fought for our teams and it happens. It’s so close here and it was such an intense match…both dugouts are very close so it got a bit heated from both of us.”
He further answered when he was asked if he enjoyed the incident, Tuchel answered: Yes and I think he enjoyed it as well. It was nothing bad.”
Antonio Conte also played down the bust-up between him and Thomas Tuchel claiming it was more important to discuss the game than what happened between two managers who were fighting for their respective clubs.
The Italian said: “My opinion is it’s better to talk about the game. It was a difficult game for both teams, and we try in every game to be competitive.
“I don’t want to comment on the situation, this is not the most important thing. If there’s a problem, it’s between me and him.”
Conte also had a little confrontation with Mateo Kovacic after the game, explaining the situation with Kovacic, he said: “I think this is not important.
“It can happen when passion is high on both sides. The celebration was very clear, what this game means for the two clubs. Maybe also for the two managers”