Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has hit back at Arne Slot and mounted a robust defence of defender Micky van de Ven, after the Liverpool boss suggested that the Dutchman's tackle on Alexander Isak would inevitably cause injury. Isak suffered a broken leg following a challenge from Van de Ven, which left the Sweden striker collapsed on the turf moments after firing the ball into the back of the net in north London.
The forward was instantly substituted and now faces a period on the treatment table following an operation. Speaking at his press conference on Wednesday, Slot criticised Van de Ven's tackle and argued it was more severe than Xavi Simons' red card offence in the same match. However, Frank holds a contrasting opinion on Van de Ven's actions.
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"Obviously I am disagreeing," the Spurs boss replied. "In many ways, we are talking about a defender that will do everything to avoid (conceding) the goal.
"It's a transition so he is sprinting back in. There's a ball slid down in the side and he does everything he can to block that shot."
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"Unfortunately, Isak has planted his foot straight there which makes it look worse than it is. That would be a natural reaction for any defender. Or, put it this way, if my defender doesn't do that, I don't think they are true defenders.
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"I don't see that at all. I think reckless challenges, normally, you haven't seen any from Micky, as I remember it. I see him as a very fair and competitive player. That's one thing. I also know the two players have sorted it out so that's a good sign."
Slot was less sympathetic. "It was for me a reckless challenge," he said.
"Xavi Simons [tackle on Virgil van Dijk] was completely unintentional. I don't think you will ever get an injury out of a tackle like that.
"The tackle of Van de Ven, if you make that tackle 10 times then 10 times there's a serious chance a player could get a serious injury."
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher doesn't believe Van de Ven's challenge on Isak ever warranted a red card. "I can't see that he's done anything that a footballer wouldn't," Gallagher said on Sky Sports Ref Watch.
"I would be astonished if that was given as a red card anywhere on the pitch. Players mistime tackles all the time. He's slightly late... it's not a red card. Whether it be in the penalty box, in the D, the centre circle or the other half."