Maresca defends Ndidi after Palmer suffers dangerous foul

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has defended Wilfred Ndidi’s challenge on Cole Palmer, saying the Nigerian did not intend to injure the England international.

Maresca, who was Leicester City’s manager last season in the Sky Bet Championship and plotted their instant return to the Premier League and also converted Ndidi from a defensive midfielder to an offensive one believes the Nigerian rightly escaped been sent off in the game despite protests from visitors’ players.

Ndidi was booked for a challenge on Palmer in the first half after scraping his foot down the Chelsea star’s right Achilles tendon.

Reports from football.london claim a red card wasn’t issued because Ndidi’s challenge came from a short distance and ‘lacked intensity’.

“I don’t think Cole is the target. I don’t think that. What I think, and I said after the Manchester United game, when there is bad intention, there has to be a different kind of punishment from the referee. I think Man United was bad intention.

“I’m not saying Wilf was bad intention because I love Wilf. Overall, when there is bad intention, I think the punishment has to be different.”

He added, “Today’s foul? I don’t think so. I saw the clip and I don’t think it is a red, to be honest.”