Jamie Carragher slams 'crazy decision' that cost Tottenham crucial win against Leeds | OneFootball

French forward conceded a penalty after opening scoring in spectacular fashion

Jamie Carragher slammed Mathys Tel’s “crazy decision” after the French forward conceded a decisive penalty in Tottenham’s 1-1 draw with Leeds on Monday.

Spurs had the opportunity to take advantage of West Ham’s 1-0 defeat by Arsenal on Sunday and move four points clear of the Hammers in the two sides’ bid to stay in the Premier League.

Tel opened the scoring in sumptuous style for Spurs in the second half, but he then tried to acrobatically clear a corner.

He caught the visitors’ captain Ethan Ampadu on the head with his studs, leaving the Welshman with a battle scar.

VAR deemed the incident worthy of a penalty kick, which Dominic Calvert-Lewin emphatically converted to equalise.

The result leaves Spurs just two points clear of their London rivals with two games left to play.

Hero to zero: Mathys Tel

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"It's just a crazy decision from Tel,” Carragher said on Sky Sports afterwards.

“What you think sometimes is we've been there sometimes as players where you don't see the opposition player coming in.

"But he's about to make his decision and he sees him, he looks. So he's made his decision but as soon as he knows there's someone there, it has to change.

"He still has time, he's got to change his mind. I thought he hadn't seen him initially, but he has. It's a really, really poor decision.”

The French forward was almost caught out in the first half when he tried to clear his lines in his own penalty area, under pressure from two Leeds bodies.

His sliced ball turned into an inviting cross for Calvert-Lewin in the middle, but Kevin Danso rose highest to avert the danger.

Chance spurned: Roberto De Zerbi

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"We're talking about a young attacking player, making two ridiculous decisions in this game,” Carragher continued.

"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.

"You'd be going nuts, but the good at the other end - everything we showed that was good from Spurs in the first half, and then he scored the goal in the second half.

"That's the art of management, and De Zerbi knows that a lot better than me."

Spurs have two games remaining in their Premier League campaign, and they travel to Chelsea next before hosting Everton on the final day.