Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel lamented how the decision by the Football Association (FA) to ban him from the touchline of his team's next game against Leicester City was "very hard to accept" in his pre-match press conference.
The Blues boss was involved in a bust-up on the sidelines with Tottenham Hotspur head coach Antonio Conte a fortnight ago, which led to a red card for both coaches as well as fines as part of disciplinary action.
Meanwhile, Tuchel also spoke (albeit limitedly) on potential new incomings, with various transfer rumours hotting up in recent days as the deadline for the close of the summer window edges ever closer.
There was also time for a quick update on team news too, with the German giving out the lowdown on the current state of his squad, with two notable absences in midfield ahead of the game against Brendan Rodgers' Leicester.
On the touchline ban
Unsurprisingly, much of the attention of the press conference was focused on the fact that the 48-year-old coach will not be present on the sidelines for this game as a result of the findings of an FA disciplinary hearing.
Tuchel explained how he had mixed feelings on the decision, saying "I think there are two sides to it. The one side is that I got the red card and behaved in a way which is not appropriate and which I regret, but it was out of passion.
"I can accept if I get a red card during the match - if this is the decision - and am fined. This is one side to it. I don't dispute it and accept it.
"What's hard to accept is the context. I don't think I started the aggression, it started earlier. I don't think I was the only person involved, we both got a red card.
Referencing Cristian Romero's hair tug on Marc Cucurella which led to the corner from which Spurs equalised from in the aforementioned game, Tuchel compared situations: "A player pulled another player by its hair two minutes earlier. He can play on, he is not banned.
"For a firm handshake at the end of the match, one coach is banned. This is very hard to accept, but I have to accept it. Putting it into context, I cannot understand."
On transfer rumours
With the transfer window coming to a close in less than a week's time now, the topic of any late incomings to bolster the squad was bound to come up, especially considering how awash with rumours social media seems to have been in recent days.
Whether it's a reunion with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for Tuchel after his time with the striker at Borussia Dortmund, or the marquee signing of Frankie De Jong from Barcelona, the rumour mill does not stop turning, and Tuchel was asked about the general situation.
"We have some ideas but maybe nobody comes in," he said. "It's not a long window anymore, it closes soon. The focus is on the things we can influence. Everybody else [other clubs] is not our decision.
"No matter what we want, there are always several parties involved that have to agree. The opinions for transfers have not changed much or at all. We knew for weeks what we have and want to add to the group.
"I am far too experienced in this job to this level to know not every wish can be fulfilled. We have our own stuff to improve and it sharpens our vision on our own team. This is where the focus is."
Clearly then, Tuchel is more concentrated on working with what he already has at his disposal than searching for lots of ready-made replacements for current players in the final seven days of the window.
In fact, he was reluctant to comment on any individuals, remarking on how Wesley Fofana is now training with the Leicester Under-21s: "It's your job to read into that. It's not our player. It's their decision and where it has to stay."
On team news
Most pertinently for this weekend's upcoming match, there was also a summary of the injury news amongst the squad, in addition to the absence of Kalidou Koulibaly who is suspended after his red card against Leeds United.
In particular, the issues are in midfield, with two potential names in the starting XI looking as though they won't be involved, or at least will do so to a very minimal extent.
On N'Golo Kante, Tuchel was despondent, saying "We are talking four weeks plus [until his return]. I told you at the end of last season he is our key player normally. He gives something to our team that no other player in the world can give to any other team.
"That makes him a key player. If your key player is out, it's a situation you don't like but have to deal with. It has huge influence."
The news regarding a partner in the middle of the park that Kante has often played alongside was slightly more optimistic though, with Mateo Kovacic "back in the group," according to Tuchel.
"N'Golo is the only one that did not train now this week," the head coach continued. "So everybody is back in training. Kova is ... ready to play some 20 minutes.
"We miss him [Kovacic] as a personality, his experience and his quality. It's maybe 20 minutes [against Leicester] at the moment. [It] was his first training week without reaction in the knee so we cannot rush things otherwise we will just sabotage our own plans with him.
"We need him long term. It's good to have him back and as an option on the bench."