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Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has revealed why he withdrew Jadon Sancho at half time of Sunday’s 2-1 defeat over Liverpool.
The Manchester United loanee was handed a fourth Premier League start for the away meeting with Arne Slot‘s side.
Sancho struggled to have a meaningful impact on proceedings, but he may have felt he should have won a penalty in the first period.
The former Dortmund man went to the ground in the box following contact with Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.
However, referee John Brooks felt the contact was not worthy of a foul and those in the VAR room ultimately supported his decision.
Maresca explains Sancho substitution
After experiencing an underwhelming first period, the Chelsea winger failed to reappear for the second half of the Premier League clash.
Sancho was replaced by Portugal international Pedro Neto, who came off the bench to make his eighth Premier League appearance since joining from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer.
At the time, it was unclear whether Maresca had withdrawn Sancho due to a physical issue or a tactical decision.
Speaking after the narrow defeat, the Chelsea boss revealed the real reason behind Sancho’s half-time withdrawal at Anfield.
“Tactical,” Maresca told reporters. when asked why Sancho had been taken off at the break.
Was Maresca right to sub off Sancho?
Maresca was probably right to bring off Sancho, with the winger struggling to cause Liverpool problems on Chelsea’s left side.
Sancho’s replacement offered a greater threat in the second period, although Neto was unable to help his side rescue a point from the contest.
The Portuguese attacker produced a couple of purposeful runs and created three chances in his second-half performance.
Neto could be given a starting opportunity in Thursday’s Conference League away clash against Greek giants Panathinaikos.