Di Matteo explains decision to take Mikel off against United
Roberto Di Matteo said he took John Obi Mikel off at half-time against Manchester United for tactical reasons.
Mikel, who was booked in the first half, made way for Ramires at the interval.
The midfielder has been at the centre of the controversy surrounding referee Mark Clattenburg in the wake of the Sunday’s league match against United.
But Blues boss Di Matteo explained: “I wouldn’t have played him if I had any doubt. I had no concerns. He’s fully focused on playing football.
“We had both midfield players booked in the first half. I also wanted to change things.”
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
Follow West London Sport on Twitter
Find us on Facebook
01/11/2012 @ 5:35 am
Ours isn’t a controversial win. In fact for bring down through to goal sturrige, I expected a red card for that Man U defender
01/11/2012 @ 3:10 am
Yes I love it when chelsea play sexy it nice!!!!
01/11/2012 @ 2:40 am
That was a wrong decision as we all know that, that Romeo boy is not there, after that substitution man u were dominating the field. But thas to oscar our tantilizer master who change the game an win it 4 us……