Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi on his side’s 1-0 defeat to Leeds United at Elland Road.
Roberto De Zerbi made a frank admission in his assessment of Tottenham’s 1-0 defeat to Leeds United at Elland Road with a “parameters” gripe concerning referee John Brooks and the VAR check for a possible Jayden Bogle red card.
De Zerbi’s side went into Saturday’s Premier League clash at Leeds having won their last three games and the visitors threatened to cause problems for Daniel Farke’s Whites in a first half that ultimately ended goalless.
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Leeds, though, were much improved after the break and Farke’s men bagged what proved the only goal of the game in the 79th minute when substitute Noah Okafor rifled home a clinical finish within seconds of coming on.
Speaking post match, De Zerbi gave a very honest assessment of his team’s display, the Spurs boss reasonably pleased with his men’s first half showing but not so much their second half exploits as he admitted Tottenham deserved to lose.
The Spurs boss also provided his take on Whites right back Jayden Bogle’s challenge on Mathys Tel midway through the first half which was checked by VAR for a possible red card for serious foul play but ultimately cleared.
"Two different games in the same game,” said De Zerbi.
"In the first half we played, okay, not the best game but we were alive, we were attacking, we had two or three clear chances to score and we didn't suffer anything.
"In the second half, I don’t know why but we suffered too much and we deserved to lose.
"We didn't win any duels, we didn't win any one-to-ones. There was space to play and we didn’t take the right decisions, take the right positions.
"We didn't show personality or show what we are, who we are. It’s a part of the journey for sure.
"It’s not an excuse and it can be normal in football but we have to be honest because if you are not honest today I think the future is not good.
"If you are honest and analyse honestly our behaviour in the second-half I think we can become a top team."
Asked what he thought about Bogle’s tackle on Tel in the first half, De Zerbi said: “I can't say something more because I didn't see clearly the situation.
"I was surprised because in the same positions in the second half, two different fouls, two yellow cards for Pedro Porro is not possible.
"I don't know if it was a red card or not on Mathys Tel but for sure Pedro Porro yellow card and why I am telling it like this is because the parameters of the referee were not good enough I think for both situations."