Thomas Tuchel, like his coaching colleague, saw the red card because of a wild quarrel with Antonio Conte after his Chelsea FC scored 2-2 (1-0) against Tottenham Hotspur. When the two shook hands after the final whistle, they would not let go at first, yelled at each other and had to be separated. The holding seemed to come from Tuchel.
“I thought that you look into each other’s eyes when we shake hands, but he had a different opinion,” said Tuchel afterwards about the trigger for the tumult.
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.” Even during the game, Tuchel and Conte clashed and were warned.
For Chelsea and Tuchel it was the first setback in the English Premier League on the second day of the game. England international Harry Kane scored for Spurs in the sixth minute of added time. When Reece James scored what was supposed to be the winning goal for Chelsea in the 77th minute, Tuchel sprinted and jubilantly hopped along the sidelines. The German national player Kai Havertz had missed the great opportunity to score the opening goal two minutes earlier from five meters. Kalidou Koulibaly (19′) scored to make it 1-0 for Chelsea, while former Bayern professional Pierre Emile Højbjerg (68′) ensured Spurs equalized 1-1 in the meantime.
With four points from two games, Chelsea are two points behind champions and leaders Manchester City.
