TIRED EXCUSES
■ JOSE POINTS THE FINGER AT REFEREE OLIVER FOR TOTTENHAM’S DERBY WOES ■ ARTETA DEFENDS DECISION TO DROP AUBA FOR BREAKING GUNNERS’ RULES
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JOSE MOURINHO blamed referee Michael Oliver for Tottenham’s north London derby defeat to Arsenal, suggesting the official may be feeling the effects of a relentless season.
Oliver awarded the Gunners a contentious second-half penalty for a foul by Davinson Sanchez on Alexandre Lacazette, which the striker converted to secure a 2-1 win for the hosts.
Sanchez’s challenge came a splitsecond after Lacazette had sliced his shot on goal and Mourinho bemoaned Oliver’s record for awarding spot-kicks against him and called for officials to explain their decisions post-match.
‘It was a mistake by Michael Oliver,’ said Mourinho, who accused some of his own players of ‘hiding’ in a sub-par first-half performance yesterday.
‘Players get tired – there are so many matches – coaches get tired, referees, maybe they get tired. He had a game midweek, maybe [he was] tired.
‘My record with him on penalties is astonishing with Chelsea, Manchester
United, Tottenham. I am very unlucky with such a good referee. According to (fourth official) Kevin Friend, the referee said he had a clear vision and the VAR didn’t want to go against [him].’
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta left out Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang amid reports the captain turned up late.
Aubameyang was an unused substitute as Martin Odegaard cancelled out Erik Lamela’s ‘rabona’ opener for Spurs. Lamela was later sent off.
Asked why it was important to maintain discipline, Arteta replied: ‘Because for me they are the foundation and the platform we can build something medium and long-term that is sustainable and can bring us joy.
‘We know how important Auba is for us and that’s it. It’s been dealt with.’
Manchester United beat West Ham 1-0 to regain second place from Leicester, who had earlier crushed bottom side Sheffield United 5-0.