Chelsea boss Antonio Conte one again was left angry after important decisions went against his side at Wembley on Sunday in a penalty shootout loss to Arsenal.
In the first half the Champions had Willian booked for diving in the penalty area despite there appearing to be contact with the knee of Hector Bellerin, while Pedro received a straight red card late in the second half after catching the heel of Mohamed Elneny with his studs.
Chelsea had to play last season’s FA Cup final against Arsenal with 10 men for a period as well, with Victor Moses sent from the field that day, and Conte admitted his frustration that such a circumstance occurred again.
“For sure there is a disappointment to finish for the second time with 10 men against Arsenal: first the FA Cup and now the Community Shield,” Conte said at his postmatch news conference.
“Honestly I didn’t see the images [for Pedro’s red card] and I didn’t see also the yellow card for Willian. A lot of people told me the penalty was clear and for sure there is a bit of frustration but we have to respect the referee’s decision, but sometimes these decisions make you a bit angry.
“He [the referee] tried to explain to me about his decision but there wasn’t time because I also wanted to ask him why there wasn’t the penalty and the yellow card to Willian but then we would have stayed to speak until 9.00 p.m.
“But I repeat we must accept this decision. But it’s for the second time: In the FA Cup there was also a controversial decision against us.”
Moses gave Chelsea the lead a minute after the restart from close range, before Pedro was sent off and Sead Kolasinac headed in the equaliser from the resultant free kick with nine minutes to go.
Neither side could find a winner in the time remaining, and via the new ABBA penalty format Arsenal were victorious after Courtois blazed over and Morata shot wide, allowing Giroud to score the decider.
Conte defended the decision to allow Courtois to take a penalty, while he also said Morata needs more time to adapt.
“About the performance, I think today was a tough game for both teams and we tried to win,” Conte added. “We tried to improve our physical condition also because in six days we have to start the league, but now the most important thing is to continue to work and to try to improve our team.
“Courtois is one of the best players to kick a penalty. If you have a player that shows you during the training sessions to be one of the best then you pick him to play and to shoot the penalty, but don’t forget also Morata is a forward and he did the same.
“Morata needs to work but this is normal. He’s stayed with us for only one week and it’s very important to find a good physical condition and to understand our idea of football. He needs a bit of time but it’s normal. It’s the same for Rudiger and Bakayoko.”
Despite spending close to £150 million on four new players this summer: Morata, Antonio Rudiger, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Willy Caballero, Conte wants further reinforcements through the door, particularly given his side play in the Champions League this season.
When asked about his transfer plans and what Morata and Michy Batshuayi can provide to the team that Diego Costa can’t, Conte replied:
“I hope in the future to have a different question than the necessity to improve our squad, or about our strikers.
“I replied already and my reply is always the same. The truth is I always repeat the same.”
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