LEEDS, England -- Tottenham Hotspur head coach Roberto De Zerbi was critical of the officials after Jayden Bogle was not sent off for his collision with Mathys Tel on Saturday, but Daniel Farke defended the Leeds defender who he described as "my butterfly."
Leeds beat Tottenham 1-0 at Elland Road as Noah Okafor's second-half goal, scored 97 seconds after he was sent on as a second-half substitute, gave the hosts a deserved victory that snapped their five-game winless run in the Premier League.
The Spurs bench felt Bogle should have been sent off in much the same way as Jean-Philippe Mateta had been against them last weekend when the Leeds full-back's left foot made contact with Tel's Achilles.
After a four-minute VAR check, VAR Tony Harrington decided against recommending an on-field review as Tel received lengthy treatment on the pitch before being replaced by Dominic Solanke.
It was the second incident for the officials at Stockley Park to review after they also decided against getting involved in a handball call on Mateus Fernandes.
"I can't say something more because I didn't see clearly the situation," the Spurs boss, who did not sound hopeful on the extent of Tel's injury, said.
"I was surprised because in the same position in the second half, two different fouls and two yellow cards ... I don't know if it was a red card or not on Mathys Tel ... And why I'm telling like this, because the parameter of the referee was not good enough, I think, for this both situation."
Asked about the coming together between Farke and Tel, Leeds boss Farke told TNT Sports: "I haven't watched it back. I've heard there were several doubtful situations, a possible handball and also this situation.
"I just know that, Jayden Bogle, never out of any bad intention does the foul I think. It looked a bit like out of the game -- an unlucky coming together. A very unlucky outcome that Mathys is injured right now, I wish him all the best.
"I know that Jayden Bogle, the last thing that he is is a nasty player. He's normally the probably the softest player in the whole league. I always call him like 'my butterfly.' Never out of bad intention was the foul, this is what I can guarantee but I hope Mathys can recover pretty quick."
Saturday's result saw Leeds leapfrog Spurs in the Premier League table and brought a three-match winning streak to an abrupt end for De Zerbi's side.
- Leeds 1-0 Tottenham: Okafor strike ends Spurs, De Zerbi's winning run
The match in West Yorkshire was notable for its physical nature, with the home crowd revelling in the full-blooded contest.
"That is a test. It's a part of the improvement," De Zerbi said of the Elland Road atmosphere.
"It's a part of the improvement for the young players, especially Mateus Fernandes or Archie Gray or Mathys Tel, all young players. But also the older players because today I didn't see the same Micky van de Ven, the same Sandro Tonali, the same Kudus.
"But it's normal, no? It's a normal step in our journey. The most important is to be honest and to recognise the problems and to improve because my players are good people and good players. And if you are good as a man, you understand your mistakes and you can improve quickly."
Spurs host Ipswich Town in their first match after the upcoming international break, while Leeds travel to the capital to face Chelsea.