Alan Shearer wades in on Thomas Frank Spurs snub debate as MOTD pundit picks sides
Spurs were beaten 1-0 by Chelsea in a London derby that saw them booed off by their own fans, with Thomas Frank left frustrated
Alan Shearer has voiced his opinion on the eye-catching behaviour of Tottenham's players following their 1-0 loss to Chelsea on Saturday. Enzo Maresca's men netted the only goal of the match 34 minutes in, owing to a series of errors from the home side.
Djed Spence initially lost possession and, though Spurs managed to regain control, Xavi Simons then under-hit a pass to team-mate Micky van de Ven. The Dutch defender subsequently lost the ball while attempting to dribble past Moises Caicedo, who set up Joao Pedro for what proved to be the decisive goal.
Tottenham struggled to create any significant opportunities, with only a few attempts from Mohammed Kudus before half-time. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario was their saving grace - preventing a more substantial defeat by making several saves, primarily from goal-scorer Pedro.
Spurs' players Spence and van der Ven chose not to join manager, Thomas Frank, in applauding Tottenham fans after the match, which was met with loud boos at the final whistle. They also declined to shake hands with their head coach, prompting Shearer to share his thoughts on their post-match conduct.
"They [Tottenham] were an embarrassment. They have been booed off the pitch," he commented on BBC's Match of the Day (MOTD).
"I get they want to go out, they want to get off the pitch and they want to get in the dressing room and then say their sorries [apologies] later on.
"I get it and understand it. As much as Thomas Frank likes to go around and thank fans and clap them, I get the players' point-of-view that they've been absolutely awful and they want to get off the pitch as quick as possible."
Former Swansea City defender Ashley Williams also believed the Tottenham players' actions weren't meant as a slight against their boss. That's despite Frank urging them to acknowledge the supporters.
He added: "I don't think it's... [a big issue]. Just play better, that's the main thing.
"You've played badly in a derby. You want to get back in the dressing room.
"They're frustrated. That's nothing to do or anything personal against the manager, or the fans.
"They just want to get inside."
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