Or it is just the media stirring the pot as always. I haven't seen one credible source of a player that has a problem with it.
Also worth remembering that there are no dugouts anyway. There's about 5 or 6 layers of seating with Fabio and Steve sitting near the back.
As I'd been saying, I was told not a single player had an issue with it and the player I had asked had not even heard it was reported as a 'thing!' lol!
Now we have this report, which backs it up....
“Poch was calling”- Journo reveals why Paratici and Hitchen sit with Tottenham players during games
Published
4 mins ago
on
September 10, 2021
By
Sourav Ghosh
Alasdair Gold on players being unhappy over Paratici and Hitchen sitting with the players
During a
Q&A with Football.london, Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold cleared the matter of players not being happy with
Fabio Paratici and
Steve Hitchen on the bench. That does not seem to be the case but the seating arrangement is mostly due to Covid-19 regulations.
It was truly a summer of change for Tottenham. A lot of new faces came in not only on the pitch but also behind the scenes. Among the first few major appointments was Fabio Paratici as Sporting Director. Since then, he went on to play a role in appointing Nuno Espirito Santo and overseeing the whole transfer window.
Fabio Paratici worked hard during the transfer window. (imago Images)
A common occurrence these days is to see Paratici and Technical Director of Performance, Steve Hitchen at the games sitting in the dugout with the players. The pair are an enthusiastic presence often showing support for the team and disagreeing with officials over decisions. That seemed to have put some of the players at unease as
claimed earlier.
However, that is not really the case. Journalist Alasdair Gold went on to
clear the matter when asked by a fan and stated that the seating arrangement is due to Covid-19 regulations.
“Personally I haven’t heard anything along those lines. They’re on the bench due to Covid regulations and Hitchen is popular among the players. Paratici seems to have settled in well. Poch was calling for Spurs to be more like Juventus in matches with the club officials putting more pressure on decisions and we’ve seen the duo making their feelings clear during games.
“I don’t think it’s a bad thing myself. We’re finally getting to see some of the powers-that-be at the club showing emotion and passion for the club. It’s quite refreshing. As for claims that the players can’t be themselves on the bench with them behind them. Those same players are sitting right behind Nuno and his coaching team.”
Paratici and Hitchen are often seen on the bench with the Tottenham Hotspur players.
Gold perhaps summed it up the best. This new togetherness and unity in the side have been missing for a while and their enthusiasm shows that they are invested in the club. Regardless, there are rules to be followed and for now, we can expect more shouting and support from Paratici and Hitchen on the sidelines.