Maguire should have seen red, says Chelsea boss

CHELSEA manager Frank Lampard has said Harry Maguire should not have been on the pitch when he scored his side’s second goal in a 2-0 Premier League win yesterday after the Manchester United defender escaped a red card for kicking Michy Batshuayi.

“Maguire should have been sent off,” Lampard told British media. “That’s clear, and that obviously changes the game.

“Decisions like that are crucial,” added Lampard. “That’s a major part of what VAR was brought in for: a second viewing, different angles. I don’t get why they aren’t looking at the monitor. It should be used.”

VAR also ruled out two Chelsea goals from Kurt Zouma and Olivier Giroud in a frustrating night for Lampard’s side, who went a fourth straight league match without victory.

“The Zouma

goal should have stood,” Lampard added.

“Giroud’s goal being ruled out is a bit soul destroying (for the fans) but it’s the culmination of a few incidents. VAR is there for that and a toe offside is a toe offside, even if we don’t like it.”

Chelsea became only the second team to have two goals awarded on the field but then ruled out by VAR in the same Premier League game, after Sheffield United against Brighton in December.

Manchester United legend Roy Keane, who was appearing as a pundit on Sky Sports, compared Maguire’s incident with a similar one between Tottenham’s Son Heung-min vs

Chelsea.

On that occasion, the South Korean was shown a red card for kicking out at Antonio Rudiger.

Keane said at the interval: “He’s very lucky, a lucky boy. Obviously it went to VAR, and Maguire here, maybe it’s because of his personality, he’s a calm lad.

“He definitely kicks out, a lucky, lucky boy. I think it’s a red card, his personality probably helps him and they look at the package, asking if he is a nasty type of player.

“Of course, you could say the same about Son. The argument all day is the consistency because if Son was sent off, Maguire should have been as well.”

Chelsea only had themselves to blame though for their profligacy in front of goal. Until halftime they had looked the stronger side, forging a string of good attacking moves but, as has been their downfall all season, they failed to finish.

“We make as many chances as anyone in the League barring Liverpool, I know the stats… I don’t like the way we are losing games.

“Tammy (Abraham) had his period early in the season (when he was scoring) and now we are not getting enough. We are not getting enough from wide areas.

“If we’re not finishing chances it’s difficult to win games. We have 20 shots a game and then we don’t score. It’s very difficult,” Lampard said.

“It’s not worth me going on about it now but the reality was there for us to see. The fight starts now,” he added. Reuters/The Independent/Daily Star