Antonio Conte sends message to Thomas Tuchel after heated touchline exchange

Antonio Conte took to Instagram to send a message to Thomas Tuchel after their heated exchange on the touchline. 

The pair was involved in two bust ups during the pulsating 2-2 draw between London rivals Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge. 

However, it could have been three altercations between the two managers after Tuchel celebrated Chelsea’s second goal by running down the touchline, passing Conte, who had his head in his hand. 

The Italian responded to that celebration by posting a message to Tuchel on Instagram. 

Conte wrote: “Lucky I didn’t see you…making you trip over would have been well deserved…” followed by three crying laughter emojis. 

Tuchel’s side edged a cagey first half thanks to a stunning home debut goal by summer signing Kalidou Koulibaly, which made it 1-0 to the Blues at half time. 

In the second half, Pierre Emile Hojbjerg scored the equaliser which led to the first bust up between the managers. 

Conte was seen celebrating in Tuchel’s face whilst the German was unhappy with the decision not to award his side a free kick after a potential foul on Kai Havertz prior to the goal. 

Reece James then put his side back ahead after finishing off a fine Chelsea move to make it 2-1. 

It looked like the Blues were going to hold on and take all three points but Spurs had other ideas. Harry Kane glanced in a header in the sixth minute of stoppage time to salvage a point for visitors. 

At full time, the two managers shared a unsavoury handshake that quickly spread into chaos as Tuchel refused to let go of Conte’s hand. Both men had to be separated by their coaching staff and were shown a red card by referee Anthony Taylor. 

After the match, Tuchel spoke about the incidents.

He told Sky Sports: “When you shake hands I thought we look into each other's eyes but we had a different opinion so it was emotional. He was happy when they equalised, and it got a bit heated but nothing big.

“It's emotional. You like it. We don't need comments now. It was heated up and heated up. Just look at it. It's the Premier League, it's the game. You love it, no? We love it. We are emotional coaches.” 

Whilst Conte refused to comment, he said: “I don't want to comment on the [Tuchel] situation, this is not the most important thing. 

“If there's a problem, it's between me and him. It's normal to come here and to suffer but at the same time we created chances to stay in the game.” 

On the weekend that the Premier League celebrated its 30th anniversary, this will go down as one of the best moments in the competition’s history.