Enzo Maresca has just taken his press conference after Chelsea lost 3-1 to Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.
He had calmed down by full time, but earlier in the game he really lost his head and picked up a booking that looked like it could easily turn into two.
What had frustrated him was initially Bayern’s first goal. We’re not sure if he was angry at the referee for a pretty shoddy drop ball, or at his players for switching off in that moment.
Maresca furious after Bayern defender gets away with one
But what compounded that was an incident off the ball soon after. Chelsea were racing up towards Bayern’s end to score, but along the way Joao Pedro was wiped out off the ball by Jonathan Tah.
The referee did come back to it and gave the defender a yellow – but Maresca wanted more.
“For me, it’s a red card. When there is no intention to go for the ball. When the intention is to kick another player, why is it not a red card?,” the Chelsea boss asked.
“The referee said it was not aggressive enough. If the intention is to do that, then it is a red card. For me, there is not any doubt.
Tah saved by Palmer’s lovely finish
The fact that Chelsea scored in the same move feels like it saved Tah from the red – but in the end that’s not justice. Maresca is right – an off the ball foul for a kick on a player dashing forward should be red, regardless of the force or the consequences.
It was very telling that Tah was taken off at half time – Vincent Kompany knew his defender had got away with one there and the ref might have wanted to make things right.
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