The “South Coast Derby” between Southampton and Portsmouth in this round of the EFL Championship ended in a 0-0 draw, but the handshake between the two teams’ managers after the game stole the off-field spotlight. Southampton boss Russell Martin Stile and Portsmouth manager John Mousinho staged an awkward handshake reminiscent of the “Tuchel vs. Conte” moment.
As the final whistle blew, Mousinho approached Stile and extended his hand—but he held the handshake longer than usual, leaving Stile looking quite stunned and forced to turn around to face Mousinho. The pair exchanged a confused glance, and Stile immediately muttered a complaint, seemingly questioning Mousinho’s action.
This scene couldn’t help but remind fans of the iconic 2022 handshake incident between Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte during the Chelsea vs. Tottenham Hotspur match, when the two managers refused to let go of each other's hands, drawing the attention of the entire stadium.
On social media, fans were quick to joke: “Looks like Stile squeezed too tight and wouldn't let go—ridiculous.”
While the derby ended in a draw, the handshake incident instantly stole the spotlight, proving far more eye-catching than the goalless 0-0 scoreline on the pitch.
