Carlo Ancelotti has wished Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk a speedy recovery from the injury he sustained following a challenge from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in the Merseyside derby last weekend.
But Ancelotti believes accusations that Pickford meant to hurt the defender are 'too much' and insists Van Dijk knows this to be the case.
He also revealed the shot-stopper is 'really sad' following the injury.
“To be clear, we are really sorry for the injury of Virgil van Dijk," Ancelotti said.
“Every one of us hopes he can recover soon and well.
“There was this contact with Jordan Pickford: it was mistimed contact. But the fact the Premier League is so fast, it is not so difficult to arrive a little bit later.
“Jordan arrived a little bit later but his intention was to try to reach the ball. It was not to hurt Virgil van Dijk.
“To say it was premeditated, and this and that, in my opinion, is too much.
"Virgil van Dijk knows this. Jordan is really sad, really disappointed (that he is injured).
“It was a strong contact, maybe mistimed, but sometimes in football it can happen.”
