Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was not happy with referee Robert Jones following his side’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United.
Most of the game was a dull affair, with neither Chelsea nor Manchester United managing to score in the first half.
However, the match started to liven up around the 70th minute after United won and converted a penalty kick.
Moises Caicedo then scored an incredible goal before things kicked off towards the end of the match after Lisandro Martinez’s bad tackle on Cole Palmer.
Enzo Maresca not happy with Lisandro Martinez tackle
While the VAR looked at Martinez’s challenge, a yellow card was deemed as sufficient enough for the central defender’s foul.
Maresca, though, clearly felt that Martinez should have seen red and made that known to Jones.
“I don’t think he has the intention of going for the ball,” the Chelsea manager told football.london and other outlets after the game. “For me, it is clear.”
When asked if his trip to go and see Jones was about the incident, Maresca said: “Yes. He didn’t say nothing. It was not intention to go for the ball. He goes for the legs. There is no doubt about the decision. I think it is quite clearly a red.”
The 44-year-old really has not been afraid to speak his mind since arriving at Chelsea. Before the match, Maresca said he didn’t care about how much Enzo Fernandez cost.
Manchester United defended well against Cole Palmer
Whether it was a red card or not, Ruud van Nistelrooy will be pleased with how his United side dealt with Palmer.
They stopped him getting into dangerous areas and blocked a few of his shots. Maresca expects Palmer to be man-marked now but has a plan for it.
That plan needs to work, with the 22-year-old being the most dangerous weapon Chelsea have at their disposal.
Maresca will be looking to use that weapon to devastating effect when Chelsea host Arsenal at Stamford Bridge next Sunday.
The Blues are actually ahead of the Gunners following the former’s 1-1 draw earlier and the latter’s 1-0 loss to Newcastle United on Saturday.
If Chelsea can beat Arsenal next weekend, they can send a real warning to their London rivals.
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