What happened with Eric Dier in the crowd at the end of the game?
I don't think that is the most important thing of the game, in fact it does not belong to
the game. I think the game was so fantastic I think. It was a real representation of what
the FA Cup is and has to be that I would prefer to speak about the game. But I cannot run
away from your question. I think Eric Dier did something that we professionals
cannot do but in these circumstances every one of us would do. Because when somebody
insults you and your family is there and you get involved with the person that is insulting
you, in this case a younger brother, I think Eric did what we professional we cannot do.
But I repeat, probably everyone of us would do. I repeat, we professionals we cannot do,
but I repeat I am with the player and I understand the player.
I have to say that also fantastic Norwich fans but our fans they were fantastic with
the team. They felt the effort, they felt the difficulties. They probably don't know
and if they don't I have to say that Bergwijn, Lucas, Dele, all of them they told me I can't
carry on. I'm completely dead. Other players on the pitch they were also
in big trouble. For example Lo Celso was in big trouble and was absolutely phenomenal.
The fans I think they were with the team until the last penalty kick which we missed. The
people that are in these privileged positions by the tunnel. Of course some are Tottenham
fans but I think a lot of corporate, a lot of invitation, a lot of people with special
status and probably it's the place of the stadium where I sometimes have doubts over
if they are the real Tottenham fans because these are the ones who support the boys until
the last. This person insulted Eric, this family was there. The young brother was not
happy with the situation and then Eric, I repeat did what we professionals cannot do,
but did something that probably we would do.
Was there racism involved, there has been allegations on social media?
I cannot say, I don't know. I just know that the reaction of Eric was based on his brother,
didn't like what was happening there. I cannot go in that direction with these details.
Press officer - Jose's answered all he can on that now, any more questions on the game?
Michel Vorm came back in and played well until the incident?
That's football. That's football. I think the team defended very well today. We were
very solid. Very compact. Even in great difficulties, I think the boys they were quite solid in
relation to the qualities they have. A clean sheet was very close. The game was controlled.
Of course I had, and sometimes people don't understand my decisions, but they don't know
what is going on, Lucas and Bergwijn they told me 'out immediately because I am very
close to being injured'. So I had to take them out in a moment where
the result is 1-0 and there is always a risk of happening what happened.
Then of course and Michel is not going to be upset with me because Michel is such an
incredible guy and such an experienced boy, of course it's a Michel mistake. We cannot
run away from this but we are all together. After the goal, after the mistake, with all
the respect for Norwich, I'm not criticising them at all but we were the team that was
close to winning in 90 minutes. Serge hit the post, I saw the ball inside and then in
extra-time we were the team that tried. Again I would expect Lamela to play 15 minutes,
instead he played 60 minutes and he did so well.
Giovani did so well, Gedson had great opportunities to score as well. The boys did everything
they could. I think they deserved to win the game in 90 minutes and in extra-time. Penalties
is penalties and they scored, congratulations to them.
What did you make of Oliver Skipp's performance over 120 minutes?
Phenomenal. Very, very good. Very, very good, solid performance. Even with the yellow card
I kept him for two hours, first of all because Winks was in trouble, secondly because he
was so solid, so mature, so confident that I was never afraid of a second yellow card
coming. He was always in control of the game. We could
see the difference also on the physical condition of him and the people who us playing all the
time. In this moment I am really sad for the players
and the fans, but I am thinking already about what next and I am really, really worried
about playing in two days.
Trying to give my boys a chance to go to Leipzig with a minimum of conditions to fight against
a fresh team, a team with incredible solutions and options and rotations. I have to think
about a Saturday match and a Tuesday match and try to decide which one is the priority
and which one is the one where I can give some of my boys under huge fatigue the best
possible chance. That's what worries me now.
Will there be disciplinary action against Dier?
If the club does that I will not agree