Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has criticised Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins for sparking a mass brawl following Saturday's FA Cup third-round tie. Villa secured a 2-1 victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but the match ended in chaos as players clashed after the final whistle.
Frank accused Watkins of provoking the confrontation with his celebrations. 'It's about keeping a cool head, the players gave everything,' Frank said in his post-match press conference. 'Losing a tight game, season not going perfectly and Ollie is very provoking. He can easily just walk around. Everyone who has been in a competitive nature, that can trigger things.'
The incident began when Tottenham midfielder Joao Palhinha took exception to Watkins' celebrations, leading to a melee involving players from both sides. Frank acknowledged the need for passion but stressed the importance of composure. 'You need to play with passion, sometimes you play to the line and sometimes borderline. I see players with big passion and that is important, but we also need cool heads,' he added.
Villa goalscorer Morgan Rogers, who netted the winner, praised his team's resilience. 'We had to dig deep, we had to work and defend our box. We did well and I think we deserved the win in the end,' he said. Rogers, now with eight goals this season, expressed confidence in his form and the team's performances.
Villa will host Everton next weekend, while Spurs face West Ham United at home. The FA Cup defeat adds to Tottenham's inconsistent season, with Frank's side struggling to find form.
