Silva is far from happy in wake of stalemate
Everton manager Marco Silva was left seething at Jorginho’s challenge on Gylfi Sigurdsson and dismissed an off-the-ball incident between Bernard and Antonio Rudiger during yesterday’s goalless Premier League draw at Chelsea.
The height difference of one foot and Rudiger’s amateur dramatics might have helped Bernard escape with a booking for motioning his head towards the defender. Referee Kevin Friend doled out seven yellow cards in all.
Jorginho and Alonso could also be considered fortunate for avoiding greater punishment for challenges which caught the ankles of Sigurdsson and Theo Walcott respectively. Silva expects Sigurdsson to miss Iceland’s matches against Belgium and Qatar this month.
Silva said: “Bernard? I didn’t see, but you think Bernard with his size can do something? I didn’t see, but I don’t believe.
“Did you see the tackle of Jorginho? I hope we don’t lose Sigurdsson for the next matches after that tackle from Jorginho. I think he’s not in a condition to play for the national team. Let’s see in the next days.”
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri did not wish to discuss the contentious decisions, instead pondering whether his side are in the midst of a mental block.
The 59-year-old Italian extended his unbeaten start to Premier League management to a record 12 games, but was left wondering how his side fell short of a ninth win in a fractious encounter.
“We have some difficulties to approach the match from a mental point of view, maybe. I don’t know,” Sarri said.
“I didn’t like very much the first 25 minutes. We started the match moving the ball very slow. It was impossible for us to be dangerous. It was very easy for the opponents to defend.”
Sarri believes Chelsea have endured similar difficulties in the games with Crystal Palace, BATE Borisov and now Everton, who have not won at Stamford Bridge in 24 years.
“In the last three matches we created few goal opportunities in relation to how much we played,” Sarri added. “In this moment, maybe it’s a little problem. Three matches is a very short time. Maybe it’s by chance.”