Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte approached each other with a grim expression, they shook hands almost reluctantly – and then the Zoff really started. At first, Tuchel didn’t let go of his fellow coaches, which he didn’t like at all. Suddenly, like two madmen, they stood face to face, yelled at each other and could only be separated with difficulty.
As a consequence of the tumult, the referee gave both coaches a red card – it was the spectacular end of a thrilling Premier League duel on Sunday between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, which was ended by an equalizing goal from Spurs striker Harry Kane in the sixth minute of stoppage time ended 2:2 (1:0). But afterwards everyone only talked about the heated argument between the coaches.
“I thought that you look into each other’s eyes when we shake hands, but he had a different opinion,” said Chelsea coach Tuchel in a slightly shaky voice about what triggered the tumult after the final whistle on Sky Sports. The fact that both saw red was “not necessary”, said the former Bundesliga coach. “But many things were not necessary today. Another bad decision by the referee.”
Tottenham manager Conte “did not comment” on the scene. If there is a problem with the German coach, “it’s between him and me,” stressed the impulsive Italian, “and no one else.” Even during the game, Tuchel and Conte had clashed and were warned.
He had “no problem” with Conte and would shake his hand again, said Tuchel: “It was about two men, two competitors – nothing bad happened.” However, Tuchel admitted that the course of the game and, in his opinion, he emotionally “completely sucked in” by many wrong decisions of the referees.
He only expresses frustration because his team did not reward themselves for a “top, top, top performance” with the second win in the second league game. “I’m the happiest coach on earth,” said the 48-year-old, “because we played a fantastic game.”
Kalidou Koulibaly (19′) scored to make it 1-0 for Chelsea, while former Bayern professional Pierre Emile Højbjerg (68′) made it 1-1. When Reece James scored what was supposed to be the winning goal for Chelsea in the 77th minute, Tuchel jumped and sprinted jubilantly along the sidelines. But then Kane struck – and the emotions had to come out.
