Conte’s Chelsea bad boys could derail quest for silverware
LONDON: David Luiz was sent off in the dying minutes of Chelsea’s stalemate with Arsenal to become the club’s fifth player to be sent off in their last eight games.
Michael Oliver showed no hesitation in brandishing a straight red card at the defender following an over-the-top challenge on Sead Kolasinac, remarkably with Luiz already on a booking.
It is the latest example of the nasty streak Chelsea have developed under Antonio Conte with the unwanted habit of picking up red cards in danger of derailing the Premier League champions’ quest for silverware.
Perhaps what was most galling about Luiz’s potential leg-breaking challenge on Kolasinac was manager Conte’s reaction to the media.
When asked for his opinion on the Brazilian defender’s wild and reckless lunge, the prickly Italian was more concerned about referencing the push from Alexis Sanchez on his player in the build-up to the foul.
Conte said: “It’s very important to see what happened before the David Luiz tackle. For sure there was a foul. The referee has to use the whistle. If he stops the play before I think it (wouldn’t) happen.”
Rather than admit Luiz’s wrongdoing, Conte apportioning the blame primarily at the feet of the match officials smacks of the growing ill-discipline in the Chelsea ranks.
Conte added: “I don’t talk about the referees, but the only thing I can say is we need to see what happened before the tackle.
“I repeat that we have great respect for them. But sometimes, it is very strange to finish for the third time in a row with 10 men against Arsenal.
“For sure it’s strange. A strange situation. I was a player and it can happen, this type of period and you are not so lucky to receive these red cards.”
Quite tellingly, Chelsea have received as many red cards in their last five Premier League games (three) as they had in their previous 73.
It is not just red cards that the Blues have been collecting at will this term with the 66 fouls committed more than any other team in the Premier League. Daily Mail