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Cristian Romero had suggested that Tottenham needed to spend more money

Postecoglou sympathises with his player but insists he was wrong to hit out

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Ange Postecoglou insists Cristian Romero has wrong to criticise Tottenham's board over a perceived lack of investment but sympathises with his 'emotional' outburst.

The Spurs boss also revealed that Romero has tried to soothe tensions by apologising for his comments following their 4-3 defeat by Chelsea on Sunday.

Romero gave an interview claiming 'something is going wrong' when discussing how much Tottenham spend on players, claiming they should 'imitate' Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea.

Spurs actually had the fifth-highest net spend in the Premier League this summer with -£83.1m. Manchester United were the only 'Big Six' club with a higher net spend. Over a five-year period, their net spend is the fourth-biggest on £-458.8m, a figure exceeded only by Chelsea, United, and Arsenal.

Tottenham have won just one in seven and, in the interview, Romero, who is reportedly out injured for about six weeks, was defending Postecoglou by suggesting that changing the manager is not always the solution after several years of hiring and firing.

'I think in the context of the day Cristian was really disappointed, obviously,' said Postecoglou.

'He had to go off and to then watch the team and have to feel the pain of another defeat, in the manner it happened, meant he was obviously very emotional.

'He’s a leader in the club. He hasn’t been able to help us and I think it was his way of trying, as a leader, to help us and the group in saying that we’re going through a tough time but he believes in what we’re doing.

'I think the way he probably expressed it was not the right way, particularly in a public sense, because it’s certainly not my belief that our challenges at the moment are because of one thing or one person. I think whatever we need to do, we have the power to do that. But it’ll only happen if we kind of stay united as a group, particularly through difficult times.

'A lot of what he said was good. Some of what he said wasn’t right. It shouldn’t be done in public. I believe that with these things we deal with them within our own four walls because there are always issues that we need to deal with, the same way I wouldn’t publicly criticise a player or anyone else.

'I know people get really sort of salacious about punishments and stuff. They really love that sort of thing. I think I’m pretty consistent in saying I just don’t think that that’s important.

'I think what’s more important is an understanding of how we should deal with these things and deal with them better.

'I’ve already spoken to Cristian about it. He’s apologised for the fact that the way he said it, particularly in the public sense, wasn’t the right way to go about things. He is a human being. He got emotional and I think he just expressed what he wanted to express publicly in the wrong way.'

Spurs are 11th in the Premier League and with every step forward seem to take one back. A run of one win and four defeats in their last seven games, however, has intensified the scrutiny on Postecoglou.

Mail Sport understands he retains the immediate backing of Levy, although there is an understanding results must improve.

After the Chelsea loss, Romero was asked if Tottenham were suffering over limited spending and a lack of depth. He told Telemundo Deportes: 'The truth is, I would say no comment, but...

'Manchester City competes every year, you see how Liverpool strengthens its squad, Chelsea strengthens their squad, doesn't do well, strengthens again, and now they're seeing results. Those are the things to imitate.

'You have to realise that something is going wrong, hopefully, they realise it. The last few years, it's always the same: first, the players, then the coaching staff changes, and it's always the same people responsible.

'Hopefully, they realise who the true responsible ones are, and we move forward because it's a beautiful club that, with the structure it has, could easily be competing for the title every year.'

Backing Postecoglou, he added: 'He's a great coach. We saw it in the first season. In this second one we've suffered a lot of injuries.

'Players are the first one to be criticised, then if we lose 10 games, the staff can be changed, but nobody talks about what is actually happening.

'We are very happy with this staff, me and my colleagues. We love how they work and the football they try to play. We'll try to move on quickly.'

Postecoglou is the fifth manager, including caretaker bosses, that Romero has played under since arriving at Tottenham in August 2021.

Tottenham threw away a two-goal lead against London rivals Chelsea on Sunday

Brennan Johnson quit Instagram in September after receiving similar abuse

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A second Tottenham player has been forced to close a social-media account this season after receiving abuse from fans in the wake of a London derby defeat.

Brennan Johnson quit Instagram after receiving online criticism for his perceived poor performance in September's North London derby defeat by Arsenal.

Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou leaped to the defence of his player, saying that the online trolls deserve a 'punch in the nose'.

And, after Tottenham threw away a two-goal lead against Chelsea on Sunday to lose 4-3, one of Johnson's team-mates has followed suit in closing his social media account - this time after receiving a backlash to one of his posts.

Pedro Porro reshared a statistic posted on X by stats account Squawka which stated: 'Pedro Porro is the only defender to be directly involved in 20+ Premier League goals since he made his debut in the competition in February 2023.'

In response, the Spaniard received a barrage of abuse from fans angry at the post in the wake of defeat by their rivals.

@FUTSPY wrote: 'What an embarrassment, his defensive negligence removes all of his attacking contributions so he's at a net zero contribution.'

While @jackcolegolf posted: 'Needs to be more proud of trying to keep clean sheets as he is a "defender". All well and good going forwards but do your job first and foremost.'

Porro, who played every minute of the home loss, then decided to close his X account.

Next up for Tottenham is a all-British clash with Rangers at Ibrox in the Europa League on Thursday before a trip to face Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday.

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou is set to be without one of his key players for the next six weeks, according to reports.

The pressure is building on Postecoglou heading into the busy Christmas period after his team suffered their seventh league defeat of the season against London rivals Chelsea on Sunday.

Spurs raced into a 2-0 lead, but were pegged back after a catalogue of errors and ended up losing 4-3, which leaves them just inside the bottom half.

Cristian Romero returned to the starting line-up for the game following a recent injury lay-off, but had to be replaced inside the opening 15 minutes after hurting himself while attempting a backheel flick inside his own penalty area.

Argentine journalist Gaston Edul has now revealed Romero suffered a fresh muscle problem, and is expected to be sidelined for around six weeks.

The 26-year-old is set to miss upcoming league matches against Liverpool and Newcastle, as well as next week's Carabao Cup quarter-final with Manchester United.

He is also due to face a race against time to be fit for Tottenham's north London derby at Arsenal on January 15.

Romero's centre back partner Micky van de Ven was also taken off in the loss to Chelsea, but Spurs are hopeful that he has avoided a serious injury.

Romero will be out for the rest of 2024, but he stopped to speak to a reporter after Sunday's defeat, and appeared to point the finger of blame at chairman Daniel Levy's lack of investment in the club for Tottenham's failure to kick on under Postecoglou this season.

Asked if Spurs were suffering over limited spending and a lack of depth, Romero told Telemundo Deportes: 'The truth is, I would say no comment, but...

'Manchester City competes every year, you see how Liverpool strengthens its squad, Chelsea strengthens their squad, doesn't do well, strengthens again, and now they're seeing results. Those are the things to imitate.

'You have to realise that something is going wrong, hopefully, they realise it.

'The last few years, it's always the same: first, the players, then the coaching staff changes, and it's always the same people responsible.

'Hopefully, they realise who the true responsible ones are, and we move forward because it's a beautiful club that, with the structure it has, could easily be competing for the title every year.'

Postecoglou fronted up to angry Tottenham fans after last week's 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth, with some seemingly turning on him.

But Romero is adamant the Australian is the right man to turn around Spurs' fortunes.

'He's a great coach. We saw it in the first season. In this second one we've suffered a lot of injuries,' Romero said.

'Players are the first one to be criticised, then if we lose 10 games, the staff can be changed, but nobody talks about what is actually happening.

'We are very happy with this staff, me and my colleagues. We love how they work and the football they try to play. We'll try to move on quickly.'

Tottenham defender Cristian Romero has warned Daniel Levy that the club are slipping behind their Premier League rivals due to a lack of investment.

Spurs are 11th in the top-flight after losing 4-3 to rivals Chelsea on Sunday, a defeat which saw them concede two penalties and let an early two-goal lead slip.

Pressure is building on Ange Postecoglou but Mail Sport understands he retains the immediate backing of Levy, although there is an understanding results must improve.

Postecoglou's side have now won just one of their past seven games in all competitions and lost four of them, culminating in a poor start to the season.

Several Spurs managers have paid the price for failing to arrest slumps in form, but Romero believes the hierarchy should place the blame on themselves for failing to splash the cash in comparison to the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool.

Asked if Tottenham were suffering over limited spending and a lack of depth, the centre back told Telemundo Deportes: 'The truth is, I would say no comment, but...

'Manchester City competes every year, you see how Liverpool strengthens its squad, Chelsea strengthens their squad, doesn't do well, strengthens again, and now they're seeing results. Those are the things to imitate.

'You have to realise that something is going wrong, hopefully, they realise it.

'The last few years, it's always the same: first, the players, then the coaching staff changes, and it's always the same people responsible.

'Hopefully, they realise who the true responsible ones are, and we move forward because it's a beautiful club that, with the structure it has, could easily be competing for the title every year.'

Since Postecoglou's arrival in July 2023, Spurs have spent around £350million but have failed to push for trophies. Indeed, since Levy became a member of the board in 2000, the club have won a solitary piece of silverware - the League Cup in 2008.

Romero backed Postecoglou after Sunday's loss, saying: 'He's a great coach. We saw it in the first season. In this second one we've suffered a lot of injuries.

'Players are the first one to be criticised, then if we lose 10 games, the staff can be changed, but nobody talks about what is actually happening.

'We are very happy with this staff, me and my colleagues. We love how they work and the football they try to play. We'll try to move on quickly.'

Postecoglou is the fifth manager, including caretaker bosses, that Romero has played under since arriving at Tottenham in August 2021.

Jamie Carragher has insisted Ange Postecoglou will be sacked if he fails to adapt Tottenham's style of play after their poor start to the season.

Spurs' punishing 4-3 defeat by Chelsea on Sunday, which saw them collapse despite taking a two-goal lead in the opening 11 minutes, left them 11th in the Premier League table and seven points adrift of the Champions League spots.

Mail Sport understands that Postecoglou maintains the immediate backing of chairman Daniel Levy but there is an acknowledgement that recent results, barring the 4-0 victory at Manchester City, have been disappointing.

Indeed, the head coach's reign is expected to come under more internal scrutiny if he is unable to arrest their slump and Carragher believes Postecoglou must be more flexible with his tactical approach if he is to remain in charge.

'I love Ange Postecoglou since he's come into the Premier League, in terms of the football they play,' Carragher said on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football.

'It's exciting. They are the most entertaining team in the last 18 months that I've seen.

'I know a lot of supporters wanted their Tottenham back and in a way, he has given them their Tottenham back. They're exciting to watch. They're almost everyone's second team. But you don't ever think they'll go on and win something.

'Now, is that a little unfair of me to say because do Tottenham ever win anything? That's the point. Is this a team set up to win big things? I said yesterday, if certain things don't change then he'll be out of a job. I don't want him to be.

'I enjoy watching them play, a lot more than previous managers. It has to be better than that for Spurs. No one's expecting Spurs to win the title but if he doesn't bow to certain things we're talking about, then eventually... That's what happens.

'You go to Man City and you win a game 4-0. But then you'll get battered by another team. You don't ever get that consistency you need to be a Champions League club.

'That's what Tottenham want.'

A second loss in four days after the limp 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth on Thursday consigned Spurs to a bitter run of just one win in their last seven games.

However, Carragher has claimed that the blame for the slump does not lie solely with the manager, with the pundit even calling for Levy to step aside.

'It's probably time for somebody else to come in because to not win a trophy in that period of time with the managers they have had, they've never really gone out of their way in the transfer market,' Carragher said on Sky Sports.

'They've spent decent money without blowing other teams out of the water, their wage bill is always one of the smallest and you're never going to get the best players.

'So it might be time for Daniel Levy - who I've been a supporter of because you look at the actual work that he's done - but now that works done in terms of a stadium and a training ground, someone else needs to be in charge of this football club.'

Jamie Carragher has called on Tottenham to make a change in the club's hierarchy by replacing chairman Daniel Levy, stating: 'Someone else needs to be in charge.'

Spurs slumped to a humbling 4-3 defeat against London rivals Chelsea on Sunday after originally taking an early two-goal lead, only to crumble in the second-half.

Cole Palmer topped Chelsea's comeback win with a Panenka penalty that takes the Blues to within four points of Premier League leaders Liverpool, while Spurs remain trapped in the bottom half of the table.

Ange Postecoglou's inconsistent Spurs squad again faltered and Carragher was ruthless in his assessment of the club's current running under Levy.

The businessman became Tottenham chairman in 2001 at just 38-years-old and has been the ruling force on multiple managers and players during that reign, with Postecoglou the latest boss to come under pressure.

His tenure has coincided with Spurs winning just one piece of silverware - the 2007/08 League Cup - and swathes of supporters have previously called for Levy to vacate his position.

Now, Liverpool legend Carragher has suggested the club could be more successful under the guidance of a new chairman.

'It's probably time for somebody else to come in because to not win a trophy in that period of time with the managers they have had, they've never really gone out of their way in the transfer market,' Carragher said on Sky Sports.

'They've spent decent money without blowing other teams out of the water, their wage bill is always one of the smallest and you're never going to get the best players.

'So it might be time for actually Daniel Levy - who I've been a supporter of because you look at the actual work that he's done - but now that works done in terms of a stadium and a training ground, someone else needs to be in charge of this football club,' he added.

Former Spurs midfielder Jamie Redknapp further highlighted Levy's at times controversial decisions to change managers, adding: 'He's had 14 years managers in 23 years, that's a manager nearly every year-and-a-half, something has to change.'

'Well he's not making the right decisions if he's changing manager that often,' replied Carragher.

Levy has not signalled any intention to step down from his position at the club and would likely rule on any decision to replace Postecoglou should the Australian's recent struggles continue.

Speaking after his side's disappointing home defeat against Chelsea, Postecoglou attempted to rally his players by insisting they can still turn their season around.

‘It went like that last year. It’s not like since I have been here this is unusual territory,' said the Spurs head coach.

'Ultimately, my role now is to focus on the things I can control and keep preparing the team the best we can to keep progressing as a football team and turn our season around.'

Tottenham lost 4-3 to Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon

Spurs were leading 2-0 after 11 minutes but let the three points slip away

LISTEN NOW to It's All Kicking Off!: Why can't Chelsea win the league? They made seven changes and still scored five. Do you think Liverpool could do that?

Ange Postecoglou is adamant he can turn Tottenham's season around after this Premier League collapse to their London rivals Chelsea, so long as the ‘uncontrollables’ stop hindering his team whenever they threaten to make progress under him.

The Spurs boss described this defeat in front of watching chairman Daniel Levy as ‘painful’ and ‘self-inflicted’, citing the loss of Cristian Romero to injury after they took their 2-0 lead as a catalyst.

Postecoglou referred to that as one of those annoyances he simply cannot control as he explained: ‘Every time we have seemed like we are on solid footing, something has come along which will become an impediment for us. It’s just the way our season has gone.

‘It went like that last year. It’s not like since I have been here this is unusual territory. Ultimately, my role now is to focus on the things I can control and keep preparing the team the best we can to keep progressing as a football team and turn our season around.

‘We don't seem to get that ability to just gain some traction. Every time we've seemed to, something comes along and disrupts us. People keep referring to the (Manchester) City game (which Tottenham won 4-0), and we lost Vic (goalkeeper Vicario) straight afterwards for three months, so it seems like we're just not able to do that. They're uncontrollables.’

Hinting that he needs help in the January transfer window, Postecoglou continued: ‘I don’t sense anybody is feeling sorry for themselves. It is a tough moment, because there are all these tools you can possibly use as a manager when you are going through tough moments to turn things around, and our limited resources from a playing perspective at the moment doesn’t allow us to do that, so you have to find other ways. It’s not through a lack of effort.

‘The players are constantly out there because we can’t rotate. They are giving everything they can. It diminishes performances as well because they probably need a rest but we can’t give them a rest. It is something we need to tackle head on and keep pushing on.’

Moises Caicedo was perhaps fortunate to escape punishment for a naughty tackle on Pape Matar Sarr, with Postecoglou complaining it summed up the current state of Premier League refereeing.

‘Referees don't want to make them (big decisions) because they'll go to VAR, and VAR doesn't want to intervene, so you’re left in no man's land,’ the Spurs boss said. ‘There’s a couple of decisions I thought today definitely went against us. I just don’t think the technology has helped our game.’

Meanwhile, Cole Palmer also spoke afterwards, with the Chelsea superstar saying of his Panenka penalty: 'When I stepped back and looked at the clock, I thought it was a bit frantic, the game was all over the place and I thought the keeper was ready to dive so I just chipped it. Thankfully it went in.’

Tottenham could find themselves in bother for how their supporters targeted Palmer and Co with missiles whenever Chelsea had a corner.

Jamie Carragher and Jamie Redknapp were scathing in their criticism of one Tottenham player for a moment of madness during Sunday's 4-3 defeat to Chelsea.

Spurs made the perfect start to the game, capitalising on two mistakes from Marc Cucurella to establish a 2-0 lead after just 11 minutes.

The Blues hit back through Jadon Sancho before Yves Bissouma recklessly flew into a tackle on Moises Caicedo in the penalty area.

The midfielder got none of the ball as Caicedo went tumbling over and the referee did not hesitate to award the stonewall penalty.

Cole Palmer dispatched the spot-kick and his side went on to win the game and move up to second.

And Sky pundits Carragher and Redknapp both agreed that Bissouma's challenge was 'ridiculous'.

Carragher said: 'Some of the things Tottenham players do is absolutely ridiculous. It's a certain penalty. That is absolutely braindead. Who'd be a manager?'

Redknapp added: 'Caicedo when he went central just started to run the game. Bissouma had 27 seconds of madness.

'He's not showing enough pace to get back in there. He dives into a ridiculous tackle. Absolutely ridiculous.'

Redknapp was also critical of Pape Matar Sarr for his foul on Palmer which gave Chelsea a second penalty.

'You know how skilful he [Palmer] is,' he said. That is so clumsy, that is so bad because this was the moment that cost them the game. Ridiculous challenge, you just cost your team,' Redknapp said.

'That's two ill-disciplined [tackles] from your two defensive midfield players.'

Carragher also had some strong words for Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou.

'Unless he makes this team hard to beat, he won't win anything,' the former Liverpool defender added.

'When I hear a manager say, 'we play the same way [no matter what]', it's nonsense, it's absolute rubbish.'

Carragher continued: 'He [Postecoglou] said something in his interview there about how well they played. He said, 'when we're at our best we cause teams problems'.

'I can't imagine any manager I played for for Liverpool, if we conceded four in a game, would say in the interview that we played well.

'I've never been able to get my head around certain managers who say, 'we play a certain way and we will never change'.

'There's this idea, this pure game, the Tottenham fans saying they've got their Tottenham back. You won't win anything. You won't challenge, [or] do anything.

Chelsea entered the Premier League title picture with a bang after coming from two goals down to beat rivals Tottenham on Sunday night.

Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski fired Spurs into a comfortable lead after just 11 minutes before Jadon Sancho crashed home to halve the deficit.

A rash challenge from Yves Bissouma then awarded the Blues a spot kick and Cole Palmer kept his cool to slot home the equaliser from 12 yards.

The turnaround was complete when Enzo Fernandez thrashed inside the near post before Palmer converted his second penalty of the game with a cheeky Panenka.

There was still time for Son Heung-min to slot home in stoppage time to set up a grandstand finish but it proved too little, too late for Ange Postecoglou's side.

Mail Sport's KIERAN GILL rates the players at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium...

TOTTENHAM (4-3-3)

Fraser Forster – 5

Tried his darnedest to stop Chelsea from getting back into this after he could not reach Sancho's strike, but ultimately, there was no preventing Palmer's two penalties or Fernandez's blast.

Pedro Porro – 5

Never looked comfortable trying to tie down the slippery Sancho, who got away from him for his goal and had his number with a cute pass in the build-up to Chelsea's first penalty.

Cristian Romero – 5

We weren't sure if Romero was going to be fit enough to start and his afternoon lasted less than 15 minutes as he was replaced by Dragusin, injured again.

Micky van de Ven – 5.5

Massive cheer for him on his first start since October, matched only when he produced a proper old-school defender's clearance. But like Romero, he too went off injured.

Destiny Udogie – 5.5

We rarely saw Neto without Udogie, who was auditioning to be his shadow here. It was a healthy battle from start to finish, but in the end, Chelsea were not to be denied their win.

Dejan Kulusevski – 6

Kulusevski's finish as he slid the ball into the bottom-right corner from 20 yards was practically in slow motion, having created the chance by bursting across the box.

Yves Bissouma – 4

If you are going to go sliding in the box, you need to be sure you're getting there first. But Bissouma wiped out Caicedo to concede the penalty scored by Palmer.

Pape Matar Sarr – 4

Recklessness saw him barrel into the back of Palmer in the box to gift Chelsea their second penalty as the 4-3 defeat was confirmed. Postecoglou's players let him down here.

Brennan Johnson – 5

Capitalised on Cucurella's slip to charge forward and cross for Tottenham's opener. But other than that, we never saw the best of Johnson, who was hooked after 53 minutes.

Dominic Solanke – 5.5

Proper striker's play to get across Colwill to make it 1-0, producing a finish that not many would have pulled off. Not enough chances were created for Solanke otherwise.

Heung-min Son – 4.5

Only had Sanchez to beat when it was 2-2 and Chelsea had stopped playing amid some offside confusion, but the captain totally screwed up the chance. Consolation goal in stoppage time.

SUBS

Radu Dragusin (for Romero 15) – 6

Crucial block to stop Jackson from making it 2-2 before the break.

Timo Werner (for Johnson 53) – 5

Had the opportunity to come back to haunt his old club but never did anything with it.

Archie Gray (for Van de Ven 79) – N/A

James Maddison (for Kulusevski 79) – N/A

Lucas Bergvall (for Bissouma 79) – N/A

MANAGER

Ange Postecoglou – 4.5

Tottenham led 2-0, and yet lost 4-3. Postecoglou's tactics will continue to be questioned because his team really should have shown greater control with their two-goal lead.

CHELSEA (4-2-3-1)

Robert Sanchez – 5.5

No stopping Solanke's finish as it flew by him before he could even react, though could have done better with Kulusevski's strike and leaked a Son consolation late on.

Moises Caicedo – 7

Started at right back, but Chelsea's half-time switch saw him move into midfield proper. That saw him advanced enough to win the most obvious penalty you will ever see.

Benoit Badiashile – 6

The odd naive moment from the man tasked with filling in for the injured Wesley Fofana, but overall, Chelsea got away with whatever defensive mishaps they made.

Levi Colwill – 6

He grew up at Chelsea. He knows what this rivalry means to the fans. Could not get to Johnson's cross before Solanke as Tottenham struck first, but victory was his eventually.

Marc Cucurella – 5.5

Both of Tottenham's first-half goals came as a consequence of Cucurella slipping. Remarkable how the Spaniard accidentally helped Spurs until he rage-changed his boots in the 11th minute.

Romeo Lavia – 6.5

Cautioned for hacking down Kulusevski to kill a counter-attack, and then received a drive-by elbow from the Swede, who escaped punishment. Lavia was replaced at half-time in a Maresca reshuffle.

Enzo Fernandez – 8

Partnered Lavia in the first half, then Caicedo in the second half. And then, boom, he pummelled the ball into the bottom corner for 3-2, a lead Chelsea would never lose.

Pedro Neto – 6.5

Tried to sneak the ball into the bottom corner for 2-2 but Forster saw it coming, stretching out a long leg to stop it. Forever an outlet on the right-hand side.

Cole Palmer – 8.5

Cold. Ice cold. He scored one penalty when the pressure was on. Then he won another. What did he do this time? Panenka, of course.

Jadon Sancho – 8

Pinged a strike in off the post from 22 yards after charging inside and gave Porro nightmares as he created chances galore, including before Chelsea's first penalty.

Nicolas Jackson – 6

Gave Dragusin enough time to get back to block his blast when he was played through with only Forster to beat. On this occasion, the headlines belonged to his fellow forwards.

SUBS

Malo Gusto (for Lavia 45) – 6.5

On for Lavia after he had taken a whack to the head, a reshuffle which worked out well for Chelsea.

Christopher Nkunku (for Jackson 76) – N/A

Noni Madueke (for Neto 86) – N/A

Renato Veiga (for Cucurella 90) – N/A

Joao Felix (for Palmer 90) – N/A

MANAGER

Enzo Maresca – 7

Chelsea fans love him, as shown by how they were singing his name at full-time. They trailed 2-0 after Cucurella's slips, but came back. Title contenders? Why not?

REFEREE

Anthony Taylor – 6

Chelsea fans are not fond of Taylor but he gave them two penalties here – helped that they were two obvious ones to give!

Tottenham fans launched missiles at Chelsea stars Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez during a fierce London derby.

Both Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez were forced to delay taking corners as pieces of card were thrown in their direction in the first half.

Tottenham stewards intervened to calm the fans down and entered the pitch to remove the objects.

Jamie Carragher said on Sky Sports: 'Where are the people in the stands, the stewards? Don't just stand there watching, get in there.

'What are these Tottenham stewards doing? There's three of them behind Cole Palmer just stood there watching him.'

The objects thrown at the Chelsea players is believed to have come from a tifo used just before kick-off.

The situation became worse towards the end of the half when the game had to be halted momentarily as fans continued to throw objects.

The Chelsea star appeared to laugh off the incidents and continued with the action.

Tottenham fans have a history of throwing objects at Chelsea players as Antonio Rudiger fell victim to it back in 2022.

Rudiger appeared to make the referee aware that a object was thrown in his direction by Spurs fans behind the goal he was defending, with the object understood to have been a firelighter.

Meanwhile, Palmer and Fernandez both came back to haunt Tottenham fans as they scored as Chelsea claimed a 4-3 win.

Palmer scored two penalties, with one of them coming via a paneka in the closing stages of the match.