Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi accused stand-in Tottenham boss Cristian Stellini of a lack of respect after the two Italians were sent off following a strange touchline bust-up.
De Zerbi and Stellini clashed as Spurs secured a controversial 2-1 win over Brighton on Saturday to boost their hopes of a top-four finish.
Brighton boss De Zerbi was unhappy when approached by Stellini before kick-off, clearly giving his opposite number a piece of his mind.
De Zerbi continued to niggle at Stellini during the match and tensions between the two benches boiled over after Brighton had a second goal disallowed by VAR for handball.
Stellini and De Zerbi were both dismissed and De Zerbi said afterwards that he felt disrespected by Stellini, but did not explain why.
An article appeared in Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport over the weekend with the headline: “De Zerbi exploited all of Graham Potter’s work at Brighton”.
De Zerbi: "I’m used to always respecting everyone inside of the pitch and outside of the pitch and I don’t like when people don’t respect me. There are normal situations in football. It was] personal things. I always respect everyone, especially the coaches.
“I can answer for me. Not for him. Yes [I feel he didn’t respect me]. It was a personal situation and I told him my idea. Not bad words, just my idea.”
Stellini said: “I want to speak about the game and not what happened today on the bench between us and them, but this is normal, it was an important game.
“We beat them in their stadium and every one of them was full of anger and tension, but everything that happens on the pitch stays on the pitch.
“I don’t like to be involved in a fight or something too aggressive, I’m quiet, I focus on the game, it’s only two games I’ve been a coach. I am the manager of Tottenham and my job is more important than anything.”
