Following Chelsea`s fine win against Brighton & Hove Albion today, both managers had their chance to air their personal views on how the game panned out.
First up, Chris Hughton who was disappointed with referee Jon Moss`s failure to award his side, what he considered to be, two penalties.
`I felt they were both penalties. I’m probably more disappointed with the first one because there was an incident waiting to happen. When the goalkeeper comes out there is always going to be a decision made and when you have a referee on the pitch, and even more so the linesman probably 20 yards away, it is disappointing. If that then goes in, we have a scoreline of 2-1 and it just gives you that little bit of momentum. It was hugely disappointing, with the chances we had and penalty appeals the scoreline was not a fair reflection.`
The incident with Willy Caballero certainly looked like a penalty, but Moss`s view was restricted by players. If he can`t see it, he can`t give it. Let`s face Chelsea were owed one from Wednesday anyway. It`s true what they say, these things tend to even themselves out over a season.
Antonio Conte, for his part, felt Chelsea had come in for unfair criticism following their recent run of draws,
`It’s normal that the press try to see the negative aspect and don’t see the positives. But this team, with many problems, are unbeaten in 11 games in every competition. To win in this way, despite not having five important players, means every player deserves to have a chance and every player has to fight to play. That means that every player deserves his chance, and every player has to fight to play.`
As for Brighton`s penalty shouts, the manager has has his fair share of things to say in following the Norwich game. Today, the refereeing gods were on his side, but in true Arsene Wenger style, he didn`t see it,
`In England, for a penalty to be whistled is not simple. You can see what happened in the last game against Norwich, it`s the same. In this league there is this type of situation for both teams. I didn`t see these two situations so I can`t give an evaluation.`
Conte also spoke about Andreas Christensen who had to leave the field following a clash of heads, the news was relatively positive,
`Andreas had a contusion. The player didn`t want to come off, but at the same time when you have a player like David Luiz on the bench, it was simple for me. Also because the referee tried to force this substitution. It was a simple contusion, the player is okay and he is ready for tomorrow`s training session.
That`s good news ahead the midweek game in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Arsenal. Christensen has really cemented his place in the starting XI in recent weeks. David Luiz comfortably slotted into the young Danes place early in the second half and did enough to earn a pat on the back from his manager at the end of the game. As a squad player, Luiz still has a lot to offer Chelsea, let`s hope he stays at the club.
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