Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel insists he regret his actions as he will face touchline ban after his heated brawl with Antonio Conte.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel insists he regret his inappropriate behaviour after the match against Tottenham with Antonio Conte.
The two managers got into heated argument during the match which led to their misbehaviour after the game.
The English FA wrote to the Blues manager and expected a response which Tuchel claims they have responded to.
The former PSG manager stated that he might not be on the touchline against Leicester at Stamford bridge but stated that he is not pleased with his actions.
“I don’t think I will be on the touchline but it’s not 100 per cent sure yet,” he explained. “I think we can do the same as always because I can arrive at the stadium and be in the changing room, but not on the sideline.
“We have responded to the charge and we are waiting for the answer today, but I think I cannot be on the sideline as it seems, but I can be in the dressing room at half-time. So the players will still be prepared and it is not an excuse.
“I think there are two sides to it. The one side to it is that I got a red card and I behaved in a way which is not appropriate and which I regret, but it was out of passion. I don’t think it was too aggressive and it was out of passion.
“I can accept that if I get a red card during a match, if this is the decision, then I have a touchline ban and then I’m fined. This is one side to it and I don’t dispute it and I can accept it.
“What is hard to accept is the context, that I don’t think I started the aggression. It started earlier and I don’t think I was the only person involved and we both got a red card.
“A player pulled another player’s hair two minutes earlier, he can play on, he’s not banned and for a firm handshake at the end of the game one coach is banned. This is very hard to accept, but I have to accept it. But to put it into context I absolutely cannot understand it.”
Meanwhile, the Blues are boosted with the return of Mateo Kovacic but will miss former Leicester City midfielder Ngolo Kante.
“Mateo is back in the group”, Tuchel said. “N’Golo is the only one who did not train through this week, so everybody is back in training. Kova is back in the group and ready to play some 20 minutes.
“We miss him also as a personality and his experience and his quality of course, but it’s maybe 20 minutes at the moment.
“It was his first training week without reaction in the knee, so we cannot rush things, otherwise we will just sabotage our own plans with him. We need him long-term but it is good to have him back and have him as an option from the bench.”
