Tottenham v Leeds LIVE: Roberto de Zerbi questions officials two pivotal moments go against Spurs in relegation battle

Roberto De Zerbi did not want to be drawn on another late penalty incident after the returning James Maddison went down in the box under the challenge of Leeds defender Lukas Nmecha.

The incident was checked by VAR and quickly waved away.

The Premier League Match Centre said: “The referee’s call of no penalty to Tottenham Hotspur was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that Nmecha played the ball.”

Roberto De Zerbi said he would support Mathys Tel with a “kiss and a hug” after the Tottenham forward conceded a penalty with a high foot. Having scored a sensational opening goal, Tel went from hero to zero when he caught Ethan Ampadu while attempting an overhead kick.

But the young winger will be needed if Tottenham are to get themselves out of relegation trouble, and De Zerbi said: “A big hug and a big kiss. Nothing more because he is a young player, he is a big talent and he score a great goal.

“He made a mistake for the experience because he has not the right experience and he has not played too many games in his career and we have to accept, but I am proud and I am happy for the mentality we show.”

Leeds have posted a picture revealing a small cut to Ethan Ampadu’s head after the captain was caught by Mathys Tel’s high foot in the incident that led to the visitors receiving a second-half penalty.

Although accidental, Tel was ruled to have committed a foul on Ampadu due to the high foot. On Sky Sports, Jamie Carragher said it was a “crazy decision” to attempt the overhead kick.

“De Zerbi will be furious – but he’s got to remember he’s a young attacking player who has actually made a massive difference to Spurs right now.

“He came off the bench at Wolves, got the corner and the winning goal. He set up the second goal at Villa, and he scored the goal tonight.

“He needs him, because they haven’t got players with injuries but there’s a player there. We’ve seen that in the last couple of games.”

Roberto De Zerbi on the match officials following his side’s 1-1 draw against Leeds.

“The first minute until the end of the game the referee went to me, ‘if you go out, yellow card,’ and I think they were not calm today. Maybe they suffered the pressure of yesterday the West Ham-Arsenal game and VAR.

“For sure we suffered the pressure today. We didn’t play with passion with the ball, too frenetic but also the referee was not calm today.”

Having provided a sublime opener, Tel’s foolish attempt at an overhead kick in his own box cost Spurs two points.

“Nothing happened before the penalty; they didn’t create. Then the game changes a little bit.

“It is unfortunate that these things happen in these moments. We want to keep pushing forward but it is little set backs.

“It was tough and we could react better. We kept pushing but it was too [rushed], we wanted to go forward too quickly.”

”In a difficult away game, with Tottenham having back-to-back wins, we had a difficult week with having players out and playing some players out of position.

“Going 1-0 down it can be very difficult, and sometimes you can crumble. But we stepped up and fully deserved to equalise, and were pretty close to turning the game around to win it.

“It says a lot about the mentality and character of my team, especially with many players missing and Pascal Struijk during the game.”

“He is young and is a talent. I will kiss him and hug him. He doesn’t need too many words.

“He was sorry for the mistake, it can happen to a young player.”

“I don’t know. I think the referee was not in the right condition today.

“Maybe he was not so calm. Nothing for the result, I didn’t see the situation of Maddison. Yesterday, the polemic, in West Ham vs Arsenal, it was tough for everyone. Maybe for the referee as well.

“I don’t want to speak about the Maddison penalty, I didn’t see enough.”