Tottenham star Alejo Veliz was taken off in tears after picking up an injury during the feisty 3-1 win over Bournemouth on New Year’s Eve. Tempers flared in the final moments of the match, with Ange Postecoglou seen in a furious confrontation with members of the Bournemouth coaching staff.
Veliz was clearly in pain just minutes after coming on as a substitute in the closing stages of the game. Postecoglou was seen urging the forward to stay on the ground in a move that Bournemouth viewed as time-wasting.
Postecoglou was confronted by members of the Bournemouth coaching staff and angrily argued back. The usually calm Australian was infuriated by the accusation of gamesmanship.
Veliz was eventually treated by Spurs’ medical team and was seen limping off in tears, surrounded by his team-mates. Richarlison, who bagged Spurs’ third goal in the game, was seen helping Veliz off the pitch alongside club doctors. According to The Evening Standard, the summer signing was seen leaving the stadium on crutches with his right foot in a brace.
The 20-year-old striker was visibly distraught and was consoled by Postecoglou as he made his way off the pitch. Veliz, who scored his first goal for the club in Thursday’s 4-2 defeat by Brighton, was one of two injury concerns for the Spurs manager despite a fine triumph over Bournemouth.
Goalscorer Pape Matar Sarr limped off just after the half-hour mark, although the midfielder was always set to be unavailable for at least a month due to his participation at the Africa Cup of Nations. Sarr was upset as he left the field with his place at the tournament with Senegal now in doubt.
The 21-year-old gave Spurs the lead after nine minutes with a precise driven effort from the edge of the penalty area. Excellent pressing by Rodrigo Bentancur and Giovani Lo Celso allowed Sarr to break forward with the ball and find the corner of Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto’s goal.
