Tottenham Hotspur face a worrying injury concern over Mathys Tel after Leeds United defender Jayden Bogle escaped a red card for a challenge during Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Elland Road.
The incident prompted a lengthy VAR review, but Bogle received no punishment despite catching Tel on the ankle and forcing the French forward off before half-time.
Roberto De Zerbi subsequently questioned his team's performance rather than blaming the officials for the result.
Tottenham frustrated by Jayden Bogle VAR decision
Bogle caught Tel with his studs during a challenge in the 34th minute, leaving the Tottenham forward requiring treatment.
VAR Tony Harrington reviewed the incident for more than four minutes but decided against recommending an on-field review to referee John Brooks.
The Premier League's explanation described the challenge as reckless but concluded that it did not meet the threshold for a red card.
Because Brooks had not initially booked Bogle, the defender escaped without a caution.
Tel attempted to continue before Dominic Solanke replaced him in the 43rd minute.
De Zerbi later suggested the injury could be serious, with further medical checks required.
Roberto De Zerbi questions Tottenham's mentality
Tottenham arrived at Elland Road following three consecutive Premier League victories, but Noah Okafor's 79th-minute winner ended that run.
The defeat left Spurs tenth in the table.
De Zerbi was particularly disappointed by his team's second-half performance, criticising their lack of personality and physicality.
"The future is not good," De Zerbi admitted after the defeat.
His warning formed part of a broader argument that Tottenham must honestly assess their shortcomings if they want to develop into a top team.
Spurs await further news on Tel
Tel's injury adds to Tottenham's concerns ahead of the international break.
The 21-year-old was reportedly seen leaving Elland Road on crutches and wearing a protective boot.
Although the VAR decision attracted criticism, De Zerbi maintained his confidence in the officials and insisted his players must take responsibility for their performance.
Key Points
- Bogle escaped punishment after a lengthy VAR review.
- Tel was substituted with an ankle injury.
- Okafor scored Leeds' winner in the 79th minute.
- De Zerbi criticised Tottenham's second-half display.
What's Next?
Tottenham will await medical results to establish the extent of Tel's injury while De Zerbi works to address his side's inconsistency.
0 Comments
First read message
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *