Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou played down his heated touchline exchange with Bournemouth’s backroom staff towards the end of an entertaining 3-1 home win.
Pape Sarr, Son Heung-min and Richarlison were on target to fire fifth-placed Spurs to a fourth victory in five matches, which puts them three points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool going into 2024.
The back and forth contest threatened to spill over towards its conclusion when young Tottenham substitute Alejo Veliz suffered a suspected knee injury and while he attempted to play on, he was repeatedly told by Postecoglou and his staff to stay down to receive treatment.
It led to Postecoglou exchanging words with Bournemouth first-team coach Shaun Cooper in stoppage time before a melee ensued on the touchline, which resulted in referee Stuart Hooper booking the duo and Spurs midfielder Giovani Lo Celso.
But Postecoglou joked: “We were just wishing each other happy new year.
“It’s alright. Just a little bit of emotion in the game. I was more concerned with Alejo because we were kind of trying to get him off the field and, apart from my physically going on the pitch and dragging him off, he wasn’t really going to go down.
“So, we were just shouting at him and I think the Bournemouth staff thought, I don’t know what they thought, maybe that we were trying to make a substitution but we knew we had none. It was just about getting him off.”
Opposite number Andoni Iraola was also happy to brush off the incident, although suggested it was clever game management.
“No, it is normal. I think it is what all the teams do. When you are winning the game, you want to play as less as possible, you want to stop,” Cherries head coach Iraola said.
“They had Veliz injured and it is normal. We were putting a lot of pressure, even if it was 3-1 and it was a dangerous game for them.
“It is something that when you are winning, we all do. We try to play as less as possible and we have to accept it.
“He (Veliz) is injured but he has to go to the bench and sit. We cannot wait because he is injured.
“It was obvious he was injured, for sure. I know otherwise he would continue playing and running, no? But he could just walk to the bench but it is normal.
“He tried to play because it was good for them try to continue playing, stop a little bit, continue, stop because we were pushing a lot and sometimes you have to manage the game like this. It is normal and we have to accept it.”
While Postecoglou was able to toast a victorious end to 2023, Spurs’ injury crisis reared its ugly head again with a tearful Sarr forced off with a hamstring injury and Veliz also emotional upon leaving the pitch.
Rodrigo Bentancur did make a surprise return a month ahead of schedule from an ankle injury, which is a timely boost with Sarr and Yves Bissouma set for Africa Cup of Nations duty next month and Son also in Asian Cup action.
“Pape felt his hamstring and he’s emotional because he wants to go away with his national team,” Postecoglou said.
“Disappointing for him but I am hoping it is not too serious and he can still go away and contribute to his country.
“Alejo was in a lot of pain.”
Plus de peur que de mal, on se voit à la CAN ! 🦁🇸🇳 pic.twitter.com/ypGxZDXFBw
— Pape Matar Sarr (@papematarsarr15) December 31, 2023
Sarr later suggested on X – formerly Twitter – that his injury was not as serious as first feared and that he would be available for Senegal duty next month.
He wrote (in French): “More fear than harm, see you at CAN!”
On Bentancur’s return, Postecoglou said: “I thought he was great today. Apart from the win, that was probably the most pleasing thing that he got through 60 minutes and he can help us from here on.”
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. EPL 1st big match 2025/26Man Utd VS Arsenal Gyokeres now It's like he never left LOL Juventus in Group G of Club World Cup I can't believe Lamine Yamal is actually dating her Eric Ten Hag with hair. Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Credit: Justtoonit, FootballLaughss, originaltrollfootball)...
1After a mostly dismal campaign, the Tottenham captain, 32, could bid farewell to the club after 10 years, with only one year left on his contract, though Spurs will not be letting him go cheaply.According to Turkish reporter Yagiz Sabuncuoglu, he could be set to reunite with former boss Jose Mourinho.A face-to-face meeting between player and manager to discuss a potential move is said to have tak...
Liverpool is closing in on a deal to sign Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez after securing deals for Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz.Kerkez has been earmarked as the ideal long-term successor to Andy Robertson, who could leave the club this summer amid interest from Diego Simeone's Atletic Madrid.Bournemouth is preparing for life after Kerkez, and on Monday the South Coast club announced the s...
Marcus Rashford is looking for his next move after a loan spell at Aston VillaNewcastle United could give Marcus Rashford a route back into the Champions League. The Manchester United forward's time at Old Trafford looks to be up, but his options are limited.Barcelona had been thought to be Rashfird's preference, but the Catalan club have been eyeing other targets. Nico Williams and Luis Diaz are ...
Wirtz decided on Liverpool move 'months' agoGerman sensation Florian Wirtz made it clear "months" ago that he wanted to leave Bayer Leverkusen for Liverpool, according to Germany chief Rudi Voller.Speaking on Toni Kroos' podcast 'Einfach Mal Luppen', Voller said: "A few months ago, he hinted to me, as did his father, that he was inclined to go to Liverpool."Sesko's agent sends Arsenal 'blackmail' ...
New Tottenham manager Thomas Frank kicks off his tenure at the club at home to newly promoted Burnley on the opening day of the Premier League season, before a trip Manchester City the following week.Spurs' first London derby comes against Chelsea (home) on Nov. 1. which is followed by Manchester United (home) on Nov. 8. and the first North London derby of the season against Arsenal at the Emirate...
Arsenal will need to navigate a tricky opening run to the 2025-26 Premier League season, beginning the season with a clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford.They then face away games against Liverpool and Newcastle United before a home clash with Manchester City.- Full Premier League fixture listMikel Arteta has been among a host of Premier League managers who have been outspoken the usual...
Manchester City will begin their bid to regain the Premier League title next season with an opening clash away to Wolves, the fixture list revealed on Wednesday.Pep Guardiola failed to lift any trophies last season for the first time since 2017. To right that ship next season he will have to nagivate an opening run that then sees City face Tottenham Hotspur (away) and Brighton (home) before clashe...
Man United have been handed a brutal schedule to open the 2025-26 Premier League season that will begin with an opening-day clash with Arsenal at Old Trafford, the league's fixture list revealed on Wednesday.Ruben Amorim is hoping to see United rebound from their worst-ever Premier League season but will face an uphill battle early on as they face Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea in their open...
Liverpool face a difficult run of games to begin their Premier League title defence next season, opening with a home clash against Bournemouth before facing Newcastle United (away) and Arsenal (home).The Premier League released its fixture list for next season on Wednesday, with the the first Merseyside derby will coming after just four games on Sept. 20. Other major early clashes come against Che...
- 1 DONE DEAL: Marseille confirm CJ Egan-Riley signing from Burnley
- 2 Chloe Kelly enjoys sun-kissed holiday as Arsenal star rests before Euro 2025
- 3 Jack Grealish set to leave Man City this summer
- 4 Man Utd have Hugo Ekitike 'advantage'
- 5 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 6 Stunning Euro U21 reporter dubbed 'queen of Europe' in bold dress
- 7 Man Utd make decision on replacing Andre Onana with Emi Martinez this summer
- 8 PSG vs Atletico Madrid Prediction 16 June 2025
- 9 Laura Woods gives update on post-pregnancy body
- 10 Real Madrid eye a trio of targets