LONDON -- Mauricio Pochettino has said Tottenham Hotspur "crossed the line" in Monday's 2-2 draw at Chelsea but says he is "proud" of his players for shedding the club's "soft" image.
Tottenham had nine players booked at Stamford Bridge -- a Premier League record -- and Kyle Walker, Erik Lamela and Mousa Dembele were all involved in ugly off-the-ball incidents, not seen by referee Mark Clattenburg.
Pochettino confirmed Dembele had accepted a Football Association (FA) charge of violent conduct for appearing to try to scratch Diego Costa's eye, resulting in an automatic three-match ban, but he did not condemn the actions of his players.
The Spurs head coach believes Chelsea were equally guilty of over-stepping the mark but said the ultimate responsibility lay with him.
"I feel very proud for my players -- we showed big character. Sometimes you cross the line and if you cross the line you need to pay," Pochettino told a news conference.
"We know the rules but I think it's a good lesson for us. We need to learn a lot for next season. I'm sure we will be more strong next season.
"I think all the people that were involved in the game, including Chelsea, behaved the same. Some people tried to calm the situation and others behaved more aggressively. Maybe some players crossed the line and I'm sure we need to pay. Always we have responsibility and for sure I am the most responsible person.
"It was a game that everything that happened on the pitch should stay on the pitch, for me. Now our business is different and we have a lot of cameras and things happen.
"All people who play football know that sometimes situations can happen like Monday. We are agreed in the theory but to apply the theory is difficult when you play football and play to win the title. Sometimes it's difficult to keep calm."
The draw ended Spurs hopes of winning the title and maintained their record of having not won at Stamford Bridge since 1990.
Previous Spurs' teams have had a reputation for being fragile -- epitomised by Sir Alex Ferguson's infamous "Lads, it's Tottenham" team talk to his Manchester United players -- but Pochettino is delighted his current crop have changed perceptions.
"I've always heard in the last two years people who write books or speak about the past say Tottenham were soft and things like that," the Argentine added.
"Now we start to show character. Maybe we crossed the line -- and it's important to manage better our energy for next season.
"I think this season we showed we are not a nice team to play against. Not any more. I don't think our opponents like to play against us because we show passion. Maybe in this instance we showed too much passion.
"This season we have had a very good energy between our players, staff and fans.
"If you want to win titles and keep your position a long time, you need to show passion. Maybe we crossed the line but I can understand my players, my staff, my supporters."
Banned Dembele will join Dele Alli -- who is serving the second game of his three-match violent conduct ban for punching West Brom's Claudio Yacob -- on the sidelines for Sunday's match against Southampton, but the 28-year-old contests the FA's assertion that three matches is "clearly insufficient".
Pochettino also confirmed Spurs could play Champions League games at Wembley next season.