Enzo Maresca defended Wilfred Ndidi, saying the Leicester City player shouldn’t have been sent off for his tackle on Cole Palmer. Ndidi received a yellow card for the challenge, which many argued should have been a red card.
Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Leicester City solidified their position in the Premier League’s top three. Goals from Nicolas Jackson and Enzo Fernandez secured the win, despite Jordan Ayew’s late penalty.
During the match, a tackle by Ndidi on Palmer raised concerns. However, Maresca argued that the tackle lacked intent and didn’t deserve a red card.
“I don’t think Cole is the target. I don’t think that,” Maresca said when asked by reporters if he thought Palmer was being singled out.
“I’m not saying Wilf [Ndidi] was bad intention because I love Wilf. Overall, when there is bad intention, I think the punishment has to be different.”
“Today’s foul? I don’t think so [whether it was a red card]. I saw the clip and I don’t think it is a red, to be honest. The other one [vs Manchester United] I said that was a red card, for sure.”
Maresca also dismissed questions over Palmer’s involvement for the full 90 minutes in the wake of criticism from England national team captain Harry Kane for players withdrawing from international duty without good cause.
“My reaction is that we finished the game 10 minutes ago, we won 2-1 and the rest, there is not any reaction, there are no comments. We finished the game 10 minutes ago.
“I am not thinking about Harry Kane or what he’s saying. I don’t have any comments about this.”
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