The Chelsea manager has insisted there are no hard feelings between him and the Tottenham head coach, despite the two managers clashing during the Blues’ 2-2 draw with the Spurs on Sunday.
What did Thomas Tuchel say?
However, Thomas didn’t quite forgive referee Anthony Taylor, who he hinted should be banned from hosting his side’s games. This weekend’s London derby was one of the fiercest in recent memory, with Antonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel sent full-time. The Blues took an early lead through home debutant Kalidou Koulibaly before Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg caught up with a controversial second time EQ. English player Reece James then thought he won it for the hosts, only for Harry Kane to resurface with a 96th-minute head to earn Spurs a point.
After biting each other throughout the game, the two managers then went head to head after a heated post-match handshake that earned them both red cards. The Chelsea boss said it’s emotional, football. According to Thomas Tuchel, they don’t need to heat it up. They have emotional trainers on the sensory line and that’s it. If they meet later, they will meet. If not, then no. This is between two competitors and nothing bad happened.
Thomas Tuchel later added that it was hot with the temperature and hot between the benches and hot on the field and hot between the spectators – everything you want and hope for in such a match at the beginning of the season. It was a brilliant match and unfortunately they didn’t get the win they deserved.
Thomas Tuchel says there are no hard feelings with Antonio Conte – he feels it was a fair blow from him and a fair blow from Tuchel. They didn’t insult each other, they didn’t hit each other, they fought for their teams and there is absolutely no hard feelings on his part. Tuchel is surprised they both got a red card for this.
What did Thomas say about the referee?
Once again, Anthony Taylor found himself at the center of several controversial decisions that cost the Blues. Ahead of Tottenham’s first goal, Kai Havertz appeared to be overgrown with Bentancur, while Cucurella had his hair pulled just before Harry netted his late equalizer. Taylor has been heavily criticized by Blues fans in recent years, with Thomas implying that his players have begun to notice a trend of disappointing decisions too.
Thomas Tuchel said he doesn’t think some fans think that way. According to the German trainer, he can assure them their entire dressing room, of every person, thinks so. Thomas cannot understand how the first goal is not out of play and cannot understand when a player is pulled by the hair, the other player remains on the serve.
Pull someone else’s hair, stay on the field and attack the last corner. This is for Tuchel without any explanation and he doesn’t want to accept it. The German says both goals shouldn’t count and that’s a fair result because they were brilliant, deserved to win. This is Tuchel’s point of view.