Chelsea boss Antonio Conte wants to be ‘more lucky with refereeing decisions’ after David Luiz received red for his horror lunge
Brazilian became the fourth Blues player this season to be sent off for his studs up tackle on Sead Kolasinac
ANTONIO CONTE refused to condemn David Luiz’s horror tackle that earned Chelsea their FOURTH red card of the season.
Instead, the Blues boss claimed his side are being harshly treated by refs and the Brazilian was unlucky to be sent off for his studs-up kick on Arsenal’s Sead Kolasinac.
After the 0-0 draw, Conte said: “I was a player and it can happen if you are not so lucky and receive red cards. I hope to be more lucky with refereeing decisions in future.
“For us, and also for the opponents.
“Sometimes the opponents deserve a red card but, instead, they carry on playing with 11 men.”
Conte claimed Arsenal striker Alexis Sanchez should have been penalised for a running foul on Luiz seconds before the defender launched himself in the air to take out Kolasinac.
The Italian boss added: “I don’t like to comment on refereeing decisions, it is in the past.
“The only thing I can say is it is important to see what happened before David’s tackle.
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“For sure, that was a foul. But I repeat, the referee took this decision.
“If he stopped the play before, it wouldn’t matter.
“In tactical situations, physical situations, you need to try and improve this situation.”
Luiz will now miss Chelsea’s crunch clash with title rivals Manchester City as part of a three-game ban for his X-rated challenge.
Ironically, he had admitted in yesterday’s match programme that he had to keep his discipline in big matches.
This was the third successive match against their London rivals the Blues have had a player sent off following Victor Moses’ red card in May’s FA Cup final defeat and Pedro’s in the Community Shield loss.
Chelsea also had Gary Cahill and Cesc Fabregas sent off in the opening-day defeat to Burnley.
Luiz’s kick on Kolasinac earned him a straight red.
He had already been booked by ref Michael Oliver for dangerous play when putting his boot into the face of Laurent Koscielny while executing an overhead kick.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had no sympathy for the Brazilian defender.
He said: “Kolasinac was not completely on his feet and Luiz would accept he went in too strong.
“After that, it’s the referee’s decision. It looked like excessive force.”
In the programme, Luiz had said: “I have played in many of these kinds of matches so I know you have to keep your emotion under control and understand the game will not be finished until the very end.
“Experience helps you to prepare for the emotion of big games.”
