It was a tough affair between FC Porto and Chelsea in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League. Both teams were deadlocked at 0-0 until Iranian forward Mehdi Taremi scored a stoppage time goal to give Porto a 1-0 victory, that did not prove enough as Chelsea went through to the Champions League semifinals with a 2-1 aggregate score line after two legs.
Christian Pulisic put in a man of the match performance for Chelsea who were out possessed 54% to 46% by the Portuguese side. On top of that, Porto had to play their home leg in Sevilla, Spain due to coronavirus pandemic protocols in Portugal.
When the match ended Thomas Tuchel tried to fist bump Sergio Conceicao, with the Porto coach reluctantly agreeing to the greeting. Then a few words were exchanged between the two managers and later in the mixed zone Conceicao claimed that Tuchel had insulted him.
What did Thomas Tuchel say to Sergio Conceicao?
During the post-match interviews Conceicao pointed to Tuchel who was also in the mixed zone and told reporters, “I was insulted by this man that is here beside me, I told the referee that the fourth official heard those insults. That’s all.”
When asked about what was said to him by reporters Conceicao stated, “It’s no use talking about it. My English is not perfect. There was no exchange of words, I was worried and focused on the game. I didn’t understand the reason for the reaction. I heard some insults, it’s not pretty, but that is over.”
During the match both coaches were heavily animated, with Tuchel protesting to the fourth official after an elbow by Porto’s Pepe to Kai Havertz. Conceicao also protested a foul during the match by Cesar Azpilicueta on Otavio.
American Christian Pulisic was fouled a record 11 times during the match, the most by any player in the Champions League since Lionel Messi played against Real Madrid for Barcelona back in 2011.
Thomas Tuchel on the other hand stated, “It was just a little argument between me and the coach (Conceicao)… then everybody was following me suddenly; I thought it was between me and the coach, but obviously it was not. No harm done.”