How a Norwegian hairdresser showed Tottenham manager Andre-Villas Boas is not 'immune' from criticism after all
AVB didn't take kindly to hearing chants he would be 'getting sacked in the morning'
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Your support makes all the difference.Andre Villas-Boas claims to be “immune” to criticism, but his reaction to taking it in close proximity from a Norwegian hairdresser during Tottenham’s 2-0 Europa League win at Tromso suggests he might not have been telling the truth.
After Spurs’ 6-0 thrashing at Manchester City on Sunday, Villas-Boas said he grew a thick skin after his brief stint as Chelsea manager, but became riled with a Tromso spectator sitting behind the dug-out on Thursday night, identified as Reidar Stenersen Jr, after he sang a chant that the Portuguese would be 'getting sacked in the morning'. Villas-Boas had the 29-year-old removed from the stadium soon after.
Speaking to Norwegian newspaper Nordlys, Stenersen, who supports Manchester United, revealed: “I first sung after five minutes that he would be 'sacked in the morning' and he looked at me.”
“At the half-time whistle, when it was still 0-0 and I started the same song, he pointed at me and suddenly the security came and threw me out.
“I know he is under a lot of pressure so I think my words hit him, even though I am only a little guy in little Tromso. He was being a bit petulant. This is the same thing that can be sung by 60,000 at the Emirates Stadium or other grounds.”
Tromso's head of security, Hans-Thore Hanssen, confirmed that a fan had been moved after Villas-Boas made a complaint to Uefa. "He was asked to move to the other side," Hanssen said. "I was not there when the incident happened so what he may have shouted, I cannot say.
“But I know that he [Villas-Boas] had spoken to the Uefa inspector who, in turn, spoke to our security. The situation was handled correctly. If there is verbal abuse shouted, the supporter should be spoken to and, in some cases, thrown out. In this type of match, there is greater security.”
Villas-Boas and his Spurs side take on Manchester United at White Hart Lane on Sunday, and he will be hoping for more proficiency from his team in front of goal. Spurs have had a whopping 207 attempts in the Premier League this season – more than any other team, but have only scored nine goals in the division, with under half of their attempts (84) hitting the target.
A defeat will see Villas-Boas side clinging on to their place in the top half of the Premier League. They have not been in the bottom half of the division since September 2012.
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