Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Roberto De Zerbi has accused Tottenham Hotspur's interim boss Cristian Stellini of lacking respect following a heated exchange between the two Italians in a 2-1 win for Spurs on Saturday.
The contest at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was overshadowed by the fiery clashes between De Zerbi and Stellini, the former of whom began by furiously confronting his opposite number during a pre-match handshake.
Both managers continued to clash during the match until a melee broke out just before the hour mark which saw the Italian pair sent off by referee Stuart Atwell for failing to control their technical areas.
Stellini suggested in a pre-match interview that De Zerbi has been benefitting at Brighton from the work carried out by his predecessor Graham Potter.
"[Brighton] are well positioned, they plan a match in the right way, they have many solutions also and they adapt themselves when you change something because they came from a good job that Potter did with them for a long time," Stellini told reporters as quoted by The Athletic.
Roberto De Zerbi and Cristian Stellini appeared to have a heated exchange before the start of Brighton's clash with Tottenham 👀 pic.twitter.com/YqKsN2M6ls
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 8, 2023
"Also I think De Zerbi find a good solution to play with his style because that team came with Potter and they know themselves very well.
"This is a great opportunity because when players play for a long time with each other, it is easier and they plan very well the match."
Meanwhile, an article from Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport included the headline: "De Zerbi exploited all of Graham Potter's work at Brighton" that referred to quotes from Stellini.
De Zerbi opted against explaining the specific reasons that sparked his rage towards Stellini, but he stated that he has been "disrespected" by the Spurs coach, who in turn has dismissed those claims.
"I'm used to always respecting everyone inside and outside of the pitch," said the Brighton boss as quoted by Sky Sports.
"I don't like it when people don't respect me. But there are normal situations in football. It's personal things. I always respect everyone, especially the coaches. I can answer for me, not for him."
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Asked if he felt disrespected by Stellini, De Zerbi added: "Yes. It's a personal situation. I told him what was my opinion, my idea, not bad words, only my opinion."
De Zerbi has now received two red cards and four yellow cards in the Brighton dugout this season and is facing a third touchline ban of the season, meaning that he could be suspended for the Seagulls' FA Cup semi-final clash with Manchester United at Wembley later this month.
"I am sorry. But in my career it was the first time so many red cards," De Zerbi told reporters as quoted by The Mail. "If you look at my career, you can't find so many red cards... maybe I changed league and I have to change habits."
De Zerbi's side saw their six-game unbeaten away run in the Premier League brought to an end by Spurs, with Harry Kane netting a 79th-minute winner after Lewis Dunk had previously cancelled out an opener from Son Heung-min.
Brighton have subsequently slipped to seventh in the table, one point behind in-form Aston Villa in sixth and seven behind Spurs in fifth who have both played two games more than the Seagulls.
Oliver Thomas
