Chelsea ‘most definitely’ should have had a penalty after Leicester midfielder Youri Tielemans appeared to kick Timo Werner, Graeme Souness insists… as he slams referee Mike Dean for not giving ‘such a simple decision’
- Leicester’s Youri Tielemans intercepted Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilcueta’s low cross
- But Timo Werner then stepped across the Belgian who was looking to clear
- Tielemans appeared to make contact with the German inside the penalty box
- But Mike Dean waived away the protests, leaving Graeme Souness baffled
Graeme Souness was left baffled at Mike Dean’s failure to award a first-half penalty to Timo Werner following Youri Tielemans’ challenge in Chelsea’s crucial Premier League match against Leicester.
The Belgian midfielder intercepted Cesar Azpilicueta’s low cross but was soon under pressure from Germany striker Werner, who stepped across him.
Tielemans then attempted to clear but only managed to make contact with Werner, who went down looking for a penalty, but his and the Blues’ appeals were waived away by Dean.
Graeme Souness was left baffled at Mike Dean’s failure to award a first-half penalty to Timo Werner
Youri Tielemans intercepted a low cross before the German striker stepped across him
And speaking at half-time, Sky Sports pundit Souness was left astounded that such an ‘obvious’ decision had not been given, especially because Dean faced no obstruction when looking at the incident.
Asked if Werner – who had two goals ruled out too in the first half for offside and handball respectively – should have won a penalty, Souness said: ‘Most definitely. When you see it from a couple of angles it is such an obvious penalty.
‘Tielemans kicks Werner from behind and the referee has a great view of it, and why he has not given it is beyond me. There is no obstruction in the referee’s sight.
Tielemans then attempted to clear the ball having intercepted Cesar Azpilcueta’s cross
But he only appeared to kick the back of Werner’s foot, with Mike Dean getting a clear view
Asked if Werner had stepped across Tielemans while the Belgian had attempted to play the ball, Souness added: ‘What has that got to do with it?
‘Look at the referee’s view there. How can you not deem that a penalty? It is such a simple decision to give, it is a penalty.’
The decision however did not prevent the Blues from scoring as fans returned to Stamford Bridge, with Antonio Rudiger bundling home a corner following a near-post flick on.
Werner then did win a penalty after a foul from Welsey Fofana, which Jorginho then converted to put the hosts in control.
Thomas Tuchel’s side will rise to third in the table should they hold on to beat Brendan Rodgers’ men ahead of the final weekend of the season, with the race for Champions League qualification still undecided.
Werner was also denied two goals in the first half but then won a penalty in the second
Antonio Rudiger however broke the deadlock after bundling home from a corner