'Strange scenes': Mourinho chases football star over mid-match toilet break
Manager Jose Mourinho was involved in some bizarre scenes during Tottenham’s Carabao Cup penalty shootout victory over Chelsea when he followed Eric Dier down the tunnel mid-game.
Mourinho explained that an unplanned call of nature prompted Dier to run off the field, as Chelsea were 1-0, without telling anyone.
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A late goal from Erik Lamela earned Spurs a 1-1 draw against their London rivals on Tuesday, before they prevailed on penalties thanks to Mason Mount's miss.
The tie, however, will be remembered for a hilarious scene involving Mourinho and Dier just over 10 minutes from the end.
Dier disappeared down the tunnel, with a seemingly fuming Mourinho in hot pursuit.
Cameras captured Mourinho storming off and throwing his hands in the air as he followed the Spurs star.
The pair emerged minutes later and the defender resumed regular duties.
Mourinho was not happy when Eric Dier went to the toilet during the match, so he went after him! 😂
🎥 @DAZN_CA
pic.twitter.com/GNUrQMjKWl— SnapGoal (@SnapGoal) September 29, 2020
Despite looking frustrated at the time, Mourinho was able to see the funny side after beating his former employers.
"We tried to organise a team with the players we had available. What happened to Eric Dier is not normal, I have to praise him in a special way. It should be forbidden for a player to play two games in 48 hours at this level [after he played against Newcastle]. What he did is not human to do," Mourinho explained to Sky Sports after the final whistle.
"He had to go [when he ran off] - he had no chance! Maybe it is a normal thing when you are completely dehydrated which is the case, I had to put pressure on him to get back but he is a great example for everybody. If the authorities don't care about players, I care.
"On the penalties I have a negative record but I had the feeling that everything was going well.
"We were ready to fight, I told you. I told the players before the penalties that they were magnificent in the second half, we made Chelsea look ordinary. The team waited for the right moment.
"I have to think about three games at the same time but the players only thought about this game, they were phenomenal. Phenomenal."
Fans couldn’t help but share a laugh at the unusual event.
🗣"He had to go, I knew that he had to go!" 🤣
Jose Mourinho clears up the situation with Eric Dier going off during the game pic.twitter.com/WHyZXe5HUD— Football Daily (@footballdaily) September 29, 2020
Strange scenes as @ericdier runs off the pitch to the dressing room, followed hastily by Mourinho. Then Dier runs back out to resume playing. Presumably he needed the loo. Players just don’t shit on the pitch anymore. What’s wrong with them?
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) September 29, 2020
Jose Mourinho has just said that “Eric Dier had to go (to the toilet)” and he followed him to “put some pressure on him.”
There can’t be many things worse than having Jose Mourinho follow you to the toilet to hurry you along.— Chris Slegg (@ChrisSlegg) September 29, 2020
Despite the unusual mid-game exit, Dier went on to help Spurs advance to the next round after a dramatic penalty shootout.
Dier explains bathroom break
Spurs were forced to take the field on Tuesday just 48 hours after facing Newcastle United in the Premier League, which Dier believes may explain his quick retreat to the restroom.
"I'm so happy, I'm proud of how we played apart from the first 15 minutes. We showed them too much respect but then we were fantastic," the England international said.
"After playing on Sunday it wasn't easy, maybe that's the reason I had to run off but we got through it! All of the staff and the players put the effort in.
"Jose wasn't happy but there was nothing I could do about it, nature was calling. I heard there was a chance while I was off the pitch but thankfully they didn't score."
After the match, Dier posted a picture on Instagram of his Man of the Match award sitting on what he called: "The real M.O.M." — the toilet.
with Stats Perform News
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