Enzo Maresca did not hold back in his assessment of Lisandro Martinez's challenge on Cole Palmer during Chelsea's draw with Manchester United.
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United and Chelsea draw 1-1Maresca wanted Martinez sent offDefender shown yellow insteadFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The Chelsea boss was unhappy with the decision to not send off the United defender for a wild lunge that caught Palmer high on the leg. Martinez was only shown a caution in injury time and Maresca was adamant that he should have been given his marching orders. The points were shared and Chelsea missed out on the chance to move up to third.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT MARESCA SAID
After the game, Maresca said in a press conference: "He was there in the changing room with ice. We are waiting now. Hopefully it is nothing important and then I know you are going to ask me about the referee's decision. They showed me before the press conference, I think it is quite clear almost for all of us but the referees there did not take the decision and they made a different decision."
Asked what he said after entering the field after the game, Maresca said: "Yes. I just said, for me, when there is no intention to go for the ball and he goes for the player. It's a red."
DID YOU KNOW?
The Martinez incident was not the only contentious refereeing decisions in the game. United fans took to social media to rage against the decision to not award their side a penalty against Wesley Fofana for a foul on Marcus Rashford. They subsequently took the lead through a Bruno Fernandes penalty before Moises Caicedo pegged the scores back level.
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?
After they take on FC Noah in the Conference League, the Blues will host Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. The Gunners are reeling after defeat to Newcastle and face a tricky game in Italy against Inter in the Champions League.