Here is your Chelsea morning digest for Sunday, October 25.
Azpilicueta: Atkinson should've made penalty call
Cesar Azpilicueta believes referee Martin Atkinson should have gone to the pitchside monitor to judge whether a penalty should've been awarded during Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Manchester United.
The Blues captain was wrestled to the floor during the first half by Harry Maguire, but nothing was given. The incident was checked by VAR who upheld Atkinson's on-pitch decision.
However, Azpilicueta believes the referee should have been given the chance to make the final verdict himself.
“That’s a good question (on the penalty). On the pitch, I’d say yes, I felt his arm around my neck and my shoulders,” Azpilicueta told Sky Sports. “The referee can make the decision, and the VAR is there.
“It’s very difficult sometimes for the VAR to say yes or no. The referee here should have gone to the monitor, in any situation, Martin Atkinson was the main referee and the monitor is there on the side for him to help.
“Sometimes it’s 50/50, I felt it was, so why not go and take 20 seconds to review it? It’s a little bit of improvement that could improve a lot going forward.”
Lampard hails Mendy display
Edouard Mendy produced his best display in a Chelsea shirt against Manchester United, making several key saves to ensure the Blues left Old Trafford with another clean sheet and a point.
And after the match, Frank Lampard hailed the performance of his new goalkeeper, who was signed from Rennes in the summer.
“Yes, his performance was very good,” the Chelsea manager said when asked whether he was pleased with Mendy. “You rely on your goalkeepers in those moments in a tight game, not full of many chances.
“(Marcus) Rashford's first chance was a mistake from us, the one at the end was a moment of quality from him. He showed us what he is there for.
“We brought him in for his quality. He showed great composure in the games he's played already and with the saves today, in a tight game, you rely on those moments.”
Hudson-Odoi absence explained
Callum Hudson-Odoi was surprisingly left out of Chelsea’s match-day squad for Saturday’s draw with Manchester United.
The England international has endured a difficult start to the campaign, making just one league start and two more appearances off the bench thus far.
And now with other every attacking player fit, Hudson-Odoi is seeing his prospects dwindle further.
Hakim Ziyech again made the bench, coming on late in the second half, while Mason Mount was also a substitute after he was dropped from the starting XI with Lampard switching to a 3-4-3.
With Christian Pulisic, Kai Havertz, and Timo Werner all starting, and Olivier Giroud and Tammy Abraham on the bench, there is only so much room in the match-day squad.
On this occasion, Hudson-Odoi was the man to miss out.
