---
title: "Southampton: Whelan slams Nathan Tella"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/southampton-saints-st-marys-ralph-hasenhuttl-nathan-tella-leeds-united-noel-whelan/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "jonathan radcliffe"
section: "Features"
published: "2021-02-27T12:05:23Z"
modified: "2021-02-27T12:05:23Z"
---

# Southampton: Whelan slams Nathan Tella

**Noel Whelan has slammed Southampton youngster Nathan Tella for “blatant cheating” after remarks made by Ralph Hasenhuttl.**

### **Whelan hammers Tella**

On Tuesday, Leeds defeated the Saints 3-0. After the match, Hasenhuttl criticised the state of the pitch ([Birmingham Live](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leeds-united-aston-villa-pitch-19924619)), while he also suggested the Whites made a number of tactical fouls throughout the game ([Leeds Live](https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/leeds-united-news-ralph-hasenhuttl-19902196)).

\[freshpress-quiz id=”338761″\]

[Speaking to Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/whelan-slams-southampton-cheat-after-hasenhuttl-rips-into-leeds/), Whelan has hit back at those comments, while also criticising 21-year-old Tella for his diving at Elland Road. He said:

> *“I didn’t really see anything there.*
>
> *“I mean, I think if anything, you’ve got to start talking about the players that are throwing themselves into the Leeds United players, trying to cheat and get a penalty.*
>
> *“To me, that’d be the first thing to talk about.*
>
> *“Deal with your own issues first and the players that are trying to cheat the other team and bring the game into disrepute by just blatant cheating.*
>
> *“I mean there’s nothing else to describe it, but that is exactly what it is.*
>
> *“Without a repercussion of getting a yellow card. I’m not sure where this is gonna stop.”*

### **Double standards**

Whelan is accusing Hasenhuttl of double standards here. Tella clearly went down easily – fortunately, it didn’t dupe the referee into making the wrong decision.

\[freshpress-poll id=”347269″\]

Of course, Whelan is a former Leeds player and a Leeds fan – he will be biased. He has conveniently brushed the criticism under the carpet without really acknowledging that it might be true. The truth is, there was fault on both sides – it didn’t really have an effect on the final result.

***In other news, [Saints fans rage at this news.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/southampton-fc-news/southampton-saints-oriol-romeu-ralph-hasenhuttl-everton-st-marys-stadium/)***