The incident, dubbed The Battle of the Bridge, has spawned thousands of social media memes and earned the two managers a one-match touchline ban.
Thomas Tuchel, the manager of Chelsea, has stated that he harbors “no ill will” toward Antonio Conte, the manager of Tottenham after both were shown red cards after violent on-field exchanges.
On Sunday, during a highly charged London derby at Stamford Bridge, the two managers battled twice, first on the touchline and then on the field at the final whistle.
Chelsea had grabbed the lead, but Spurs’ Piere-Emile Hojbjerg’s disputed equalizer caused tensions and tempers to boil over.
As it became evident that Hojbjerg’s goal would stand, Blues’ manager Tuchel argued with fourth official Peter Bankes.
Former Chelsea boss Conte rushed in, and the two briefly touched heads as players from both benches converged in a chaotic scuffle.
Tuchel, his assistant Zsolt Low, and Conte were all cautioned, but the goal was awarded after all the commotion.
Then, after Reece James put Chelsea back in lead in the 77th minute, Tuchel sprinted past Conte and down the sideline with his fists clenched in glee.
However, it did not end there.
At the final whistle, after the tense match concluded in a 2-2 draw courtesy of an extra-time goal by Tottenham’s Harry Kane, the managers gathered on the field for the customary handshake… and another scuffle erupted, resulting in a second booking and red cards for both.
“I believed that when we shook hands, we gazed into each other’s eyes, but Antonio had a different view,” Tuchel said of the post-game dispute with Conte.
“He was pleased when they equalized, and there was a bit of tension, but nothing major… I believe it was unnecessary, but many things were unnecessary.
“It was essentially nothing. “I’m feeling OK,” he told.
Conte attributed the emotions to passion.
He stated, “I believe that is unimportant, this is unimportant.”
“It is possible when the emotion on both sides is tremendous.”
He stated that the next time he shakes hands with his German colleague, he will “pay closer attention.”
“I will remain on my bench, and he will remain on his. This poses no difficulty,” he added.
Social media appreciated the two managers’ conversations.
Harry Kane, a striker for Tottenham and an England star, described the matchup as “heated” on Twitter.
Each manager now faces a one-match ban from the sidelines.
