Pochettino comforts Aurier and subs him off after Andre Gomes horror leg injury while Spurs star prays for stricken ace
MAURICIO POCHETTINO comforted Serge Aurier and subbed him off after the Ivorian was involved in Andre Gomes’ horrific leg injury.
Spurs’ right-back was also spotted praying as stricken Gomes was stretchered off with a suspected broken leg.
Aurier was visibly disturbed as Gomes lay on the ground with his foot in a gruesome and unnatural position.
And he was even spotted performing a praying gesture as he saw his fellow pro in real trouble.
Son Heung-min also broke down in tears after his mis-timed tackle on the Portuguese.
Although it was Son’s tackle that brought Gomes down, Aurier careered into the midfielder as he was on his way down.
Given the harrowing scenes after the tackle, Poch clearly saw the effect it was having on his right-back and decided to sub him off.
The Argentine threw Juan Foyth on to replace him and was seen consoling Aurier on his way off the pitch.
Quotes on Andre Gomes' injury
Michael Owen
Shocking decision to send Son off but that’s insignificant in the scheme of things. The wellbeing of players is the most important thing. Get well soon Andre Gomes.
Gary Lineker
Son clearly massively upset. Without the injury he wouldn’t have been shown a red card. He’ll care less about that than injuring a fellow professional so seriously. Such a shame.
Pat Nevin
This is horrible, horrible. Players look devastated and there is utter confusion here. Players with their heads in their hands. Son was distraught before he was sent off and Aurier can’t watch and is praying. There is so much confusion. He is being led straight to the corner to the ambulance to take him to hospital.
Son was initially going to be awarded a yellow card for a foul on the 26-year-old who was immediately taken to hospital.
But Martin Atkinson upgraded it to a red as medics rushed to Gomes’ aid.
A Premier League statement said: “The red card for Son was for endangering the safety of a player which happened as a consequence of his initial challenge.”
Son’s tackle forced Gomes to ground, with Aurier then colliding with the former Barcelona ace just as he hit the deck.
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Seamus Coleman instantly called for medics to arrive to treat his team-mate, as Dominic Calvert-Lewin cradled Gomes’ head as he laid screaming on the floor.
Dele Alli – who netted the opener before Cenk Tosun equalised in stoppage time – revealed it was too much for him to watch.
He told Sky Sports: “I didn’t want to look too much at what happened [to Gomes]. All I can do is send him my best wishes and wish him a quick recovery.”