Tottenham boss plays down controversy

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino played down the angry scenes which blighted his team’s dramatic draw at Chelsea.

The Blues’ comeback from 2-0 down to snatch a draw ended their rivals’ title chances and confirmed Leicester as champions.

Pochettino broke up a first-half spat between Willian and Spurs’ Danny Rose near the touchline, and during a melee that followed Moussa Dembele appeared gouge Chelsea striker Diego Costa’s eyes.

Nine Tottenham players were booked during the game at Stamford Bridge, where players as well as the managers and coaching staff of both teams were involved in an angry scuffle by the tunnel at the end of the match.

“I think we were all involved. When you play for the title and you play big teams like Chelsea, they want to win,” Pochettino said.

“There is nothing to say. It was normal emotion – fighting on the pitch, (but) maybe not a good example from both teams.

“We want to win and sometimes a situation like tonight happens. Nothing to say. Nothing to blame.

“You can see in every game in the last few days a lot of things happen because it’s the end of the season and there is emotion. We are human.”

Pochettino insisted he did not see the incident involving Dembele and Costa.

Asked further about the conduct of his players, he said: “I need to review the video. When you are on the touchline it is difficult to observe the situation.”