Chelsea football boss Thomas Tuchel has insisted he has “no ill feeling” towards Tottenham manager Antonio Conte after the pair were both given red cards following fiery on-field exchanges.
The two bosses twice clashed, first on the touchline, then on the field at the final whistle, in what was a highly-charged London derby at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Chelsea had taken the lead, but a controversial equaliser from Spurs’ Piere-Emile Hojbjerg led to tensions and tempers spilling over.
Blues’ boss Tuchel remonstrated with fourth official Peter Bankes as it became clear Hojbjerg’s effort would stand.
Former Chelsea manager Conte raced in – and the pair briefly touched heads, as members from both benches piled in to a messy melee.
Tuchel, his assistant Zsolt Low, and Conte were all booked, but after all the fuss, the goal was awarded.
Then, after Reece James put Chelsea back in front in the 77th minute, Tuchel set off on a sprint past Conte and down the touchline, clenching his fist in delight.
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But it didn’t end there.
At the final whistle – after the strained game ended in a 2-2 draw thanks to a Harry Kane extra time goal for Spurs – the mangers met on the field for the customary handshake… and another tussle ensued, resulting in a second booking and a red card for both.
“I thought when we shake hands you looked in each other eyes, but Antonio had a different opinion,” Tuchel said of the post-match clash with Conte.
“He was happy when they equalised, and it got a bit heated, but nothing big… I think it was not necessary, but a lot of things were not necessary.
“It was something of nothing. I have no ill feeling,” he told Sky News Radio.
Conte put the emotions down to passion.
“I think it is not important, this is not important,” he said.
“It can happen when the passion is high in both sides.”
He said he would “pay more attention” next time when he shakes hands with his German counterpart.
“I’ll stay on my bench, he’ll stay on his bench. No problem about this,” he added.
Social media enjoyed the two managers’ tête-à-tête.
Spurs striker and England star Harry Kane described the encounter as “spicy” on his Twitter feed.
The managers are both now facing one-match touchline bans.
