Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch has said he wants Chelsea‘s Thomas Tuchel banned for the sides’ clash at Elland Road after the German was shown a red card following a fiery draw with Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.
Tuchel and Spurs manager Antonio Conte were both sent off after the final whistle of the 2-2 draw on Sunday after several flare-ups during the match, with the English Football Assocation charging the pair with “improper behaviour.”
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The Football Association announced on Friday that Tuchel has been fined £35,000 and handed a one-match touchline ban, though the ban will be suspended pending the independent regulatory commission’s written reasons for its decision.
It means Tuchel is set to be on the touchline for his team’s match against Leeds on Sunday afternoon, something Marsch said he would be “disappointed” about.
“He won’t be there,” Marsch told reporters in a news conference on Friday before the punishment was announced. “Are they saying he may be on the bench?
“That doesn’t seem right, I mean, if you get a red card, you are out of the match. I would be disappointed if they allowed him to be on the bench.
“There’s a simple rule in football. Whether it’s soccer or football, you cannot play the next match.”
Marsch said Tuchel’s absence would not give Leeds too much of a boost given the strengths of Chelsea assistant coach Zsolt Low.
“In theory, when the manager isn’t there, it is an advantage but [I] also know Zsolt Low quite well, their assistant,” Marsch said.
“He is a brilliant football mind and I have no doubt that he will be able to help out from there.”
Leeds won their opening game of the Premier League season 2-1 against Wolverhampton Wanderers but let a two-goal lead slip in their last match against Southampton as they drew 2-2.