Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho said he was “rude with an idiot” after admitting he “clearly deserved” the yellow card he was shown in his side’s 1-0 defeat at Southampton.
Mourinho appeared to argue with someone on the Southampton bench shortly after Harry Kane had a goal disallowed for offside in the second half.
Kane was forced off with a hamstring injury after the goal was ruled out.
Mourinho appeared to look at a piece of paper on the Southampton bench.
He was immediately shown a yellow card by referee Mike Dean, which Mourinho later said he “accepted” after arguing with goalkeeping coach Andrew Sparkes over what is understood to be annoyance at time-wasting tactics.
“I was rude. But I was rude with an idiot. I clearly deserved the yellow card. I had bad words with the guy,” Mourinho told BT Sport, after his side fell six points behind fourth-placed Chelsea in the Premier League table.
“There was of course a reason for it. I will not tell you but for some reason I had that reaction,” he added while speaking to Match of the Day.
Southampton boss Ralph Hassenhuttl said: “I don’t want to say anything. I have a very high opinion about this manager – he did so much for football.”
Kane, who has started all but one of Tottenham’s Premier League games this season, was substituted in the 75th minute, with Erik Lamela replacing him.
“Harry plays every minute, he plays all the time,” said Mourinho. “It might be big, it might be small. For sure, he will be out.”
Record signing Tanguy Ndombele was also forced off with an injury in the first half, replaced by Giovani lo Celso.
“Tanguy Ndombele, I don’t know. I imagine this is the 10th injury of the season,” Mourinho added. “They stop him to play. It doesn’t give him continuity. We had three days between matches. Once more, he is out again.”
