Chelsea’s frustrating night at Stamford Bridge against Burnley may not have ended with the referee’s final whistle and the little bust-up that followed between the two benches, for which both teams are expected to receive FA sanctions. The 2-2 draw was compounded by injuries to Callum Hudson-Odoi (done for the season, if not the calendar year) and N’Golo Kanté (hopefully back in a few days), as well as a sending off for Maurizio Sarri, which assistant manager Gianfranco Zola described as a misunderstanding with the referee, Kevin Friend. “Maurizio has been sent off while he was trying to help Kevin, to tell our players to get into position. Kevin misinterpreted that and sent him off so he is very unhappy about it.” -Gianfranco Zola; source: Chelsea FC Sarri had been straying up and down the touchline from his technical area all game, in fairness, and that also got the attentions of the Burnley staff, with their manager, Sean Dyche making a complaint about that to Zola at half-time. “[Zola] said at half-time [Sarri] is not quite getting it. I said he was going over into my box. He just said he didn’t quite get the reality of it — they’re bigger in Italy. OK. He’s been here a while, mind. I said fine and accepted it.” -Sean Dyche; source: ESPN And that issue probably would not have even been brought up at the end were it not for the altercation as well as the alleged verbal abuse from the Chelsea bench in Sarri’s direction. As per reports from ESPN and the Guardian, Sarri was “repeatedly” called a “sh*t Italian” by “multiple members of the visiting club” towards the end of the game. Chelsea made referee Kevin Friend aware of what was said to Sarri & it is expected to be in his report. Both clubs are likely to face FA action for failing to control their players & staff in any case #cfc — Liam Twomey (@liam_twomey) April 23, 2019 Zola did not want to go into those specifics in his post-match comments, but did hint that the club will consider taking further action. The incident did get reported to the referee, who will be including it in his report. “I think he’s been told something from their bench but don’t ask me exactly what. I don’t want to go down that line but we’ll see what we can do about that. I think there will be a follow-up on that. Maurizio felt very unhappy. We understand it’s a football game. You say words because of the adrenalin, but he wasn’t particularly happy. If Maurizio said that, probably it’s something that could have been avoided.” -Gianfranco Zola; source: Guardian Discrimination or abuse based on ethic or national origin is covered by the same laws as discrimination or abused based on race, religion, or sexual orientation, and should be treated as a serious offence just the same. If Sarri did get abused, Chelsea need to report it. This is an issue well beyond just the football pitch or football tribalism. If this is proven, then there should be sackings at Burnley. And there's a very good case that there should also be points docked. https://t.co/6ybRKd01Zr — Dan Levene (@danlevene) April 23, 2019 Burnley boss Sean Dyche tried to play off the confrontation with a ... joke? ... about his assistant, Ian Woan, but it seems quite clear that something beyond just playful and sporting banter happened in this case. “[The were just] handbags, bumbags, manbags.” “I don’t think my coaches’ language skills are that good. It wouldn’t have been a deep conversation. Woany’s from the Wirral.” -Sean Dyche; source: ESPN There’s layers to unpack there as well, to be sure, but perhaps that’s a discussion for another time. For now, we wait for the referee’s report, Chelsea’s complaint, and any further action from the FA.<doc-sep>LONDON -- Not only did Chelsea miss a huge opportunity to capitalise on the mistakes of their top-four rivals by being held to a 2-2 draw by a stubborn Burnley side at Stamford Bridge despite another impressive display by Eden Hazard, Callum Hudson-Odoi was lost for the season to an Achilles injury. N'Golo Kante also exited with an injury, but he's expected to be fit to face Manchester United in midweek. Positives There were times this season when Chelsea might have lost a game like this. As things were, they were a little unlucky not to win it, stifled both by Burnley's deep defending and commitment to time-wasting. Hazard also enjoyed a good game and Gonzalo Higuain showed signs of improvement. Negatives Chelsea really, really needed to win this game to take charge of the top-four race. Not doing so will only raise further doubts about Maurizio Sarri's ability to meet his objectives in the Premier League and Europa League. Injuries to Hudson-Odoi and Kante were also hugely problematic. Manager rating out of 10 5 -- Sarri's starting XI played some exhilarating attacking football early on, but paid for their lack of attention to detail on set pieces. They also lost their attacking rhythm after half-time -- a recurring theme this season -- and there was very little attempt to change the dynamic from the sidelines. Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating) GK Kepa Arrizabalaga, 6 -- Could do absolutely nothing about Jeff Hendrick's unstoppable volley and was left badly exposed for Ashley Barnes' equaliser. Commanded his area and distributed the ball well, even if Burnley weren't exactly pressing Chelsea high at any stage. DF Cesar Azpilicueta, 7 -- A constant threat down the right as Chelsea pinned Burnley back early, and he capped one inside run with an ingenious flick to slip Higuain into scoring position. His overlapping surges were also threatening, though Dwight McNeil gave him problems at the other end. DF Andreas Christensen, 5 -- Was one of several players who didn't get out to Hendrick quickly enough to stop his stunning volley, and also lost track of Chris Wood when Burnley gave Chelsea a big fright at the start of the second half, only to be let off by the striker's poor control. DF David Luiz, 5 -- Could not carve Burnley open with any of his trademark raking long passes, and his positional defending for the set piece that Barnes poked in does not look good on repeat viewing. Also had trouble tracking runners on the rare occasions that the visitors attacked after the break. It was another rough night for Maurizio Sarri and Jorginho, who both arrived from Napoli to much fanfare last summer. Getty DF Emerson Palmieri, 6 -- Hazard's tendency to stay wide for much of the night limited the value of his overlapping runs down Chelsea's left, and when he was given the opportunity to cross, his deliveries were poor. Burnley caused him few problems defensively but he drifted through much of the game. MF N'Golo Kante, 8 -- Ripped through Burnley's defence at every opportunity and timed his runs into the box to perfection. Lashed in Hazard's low cross on his left foot to bring Chelsea level -- though he remains charmingly unaware of how to celebrate. Substituted with a back problem at half-time. MF Jorginho, 5 -- Played an important role in getting Chelsea moving forward in the first half, finding progressive passes between Burnley's lines. Still doesn't convince defensively though, and was responsible for leaving Barnes at the back post to equalise for Burnley. MF Ruben Loftus-Cheek, 7 -- The physicality he brought to Chelsea's midfield was particularly valuable against these opponents, and one driving run enabled Hazard to isolate Matthew Lowton and create Kante's equaliser. Curled one early shot just over, but didn't carry his usual goal threat. FW Callum Hudson-Odoi, 6 -- Had some nice moments finding Hazard in transition early on, but wasn't able to make the most of his opportunities when the Belgian switched the ball to him before what appeared to be an Achilles injury ended his night on 41 minutes. Will we see him in a Chelsea shirt again? FW Gonzalo Higuain, 7 -- Perhaps his best all-round performance since arriving in January. Pressed from the front, consistently moved into dangerous positions and linked up neatly with those around him. Took his first goal since March 3 brilliantly, and was unlucky not to add to his tally. FW Eden Hazard, 8 -- It could be a while before Lowton stops having flashbacks of being sat down by Chelsea's sparkling superstar in the lead-up to Kante's equaliser. Not quite as decisive as he was against West Ham earlier this month, but still a constant threat and privilege to watch. Substitutes FW Pedro, 6 -- Given more than a half due to Hudson-Odoi's injury, he could not find a way to test Tom Heaton in the Burnley goal. His best attacking contribution was a low cross from the right that Higuain fired into the goalkeeper's hands. MF Mateo Kovacic, 6 -- Offered very little in the way of attacking thrust when he replaced Kante at the interval, never looking to run into the box and shooting poorly on the couple of occasions he decided to let fly from long range. FW Olivier Giroud, N/R -- Did give Burnley something else to think about in place of Higuain for the final 13 minutes, but was smothered whenever he tried to connect with crosses.<doc-sep>Chelsea have made the referee, Kevin Friend, aware of comments allegedly made by a member of Burnley’s coaching staff and directed at Maurizio Sarri after frustration spilled over into furious clashes between the two benches during the teams’ draw at Stamford Bridge. Sarri was involved in regular confrontations with the visitors’ coaching staff during the 2-2 draw and, having become involved in a mêlée between players in stoppage time at the end, was dismissed to the stand by Friend. The Italian appeared to point a finger at the Burnley goalkeeping coach, Billy Mercer, at the mouth of the tunnel with further ugly scenes involving coaches and players erupting after the final whistle. The Chelsea head coach swerved his post-match media briefings, with his assistant, Gianfranco Zola, confirming his compatriot had been incensed by comments allegedly flung his way throughout the game. “He’s very frustrated. He’s been sent off and I think he’s been offended as well, so he didn’t feel it was the right thing to speak [publicly],” said Zola. “He’s frustrated at the game, frustrated at being sent off, and the other thing. “I think he’s been told something from their bench but don’t ask me exactly what. I don’t want to go down that line but we’ll see what we can do about that. I think there will be a follow-up on that. Maurizio felt very unhappy. We understand it’s a football game. You say words because of the adrenalin, but he wasn’t particularly happy. If Maurizio said that, probably it’s something that could have been avoided.” Chelsea are understood to have made the referee aware of what was allegedly said to Sarri on numerous occasions during the game and he has indicated he will include their allegations in his match report. The Burnley manager, Sean Dyche, laughed off suggestions there had been bickering between the two benches. “I don’t think my coaches’ language skills are that good,” he said. “It wouldn’t have been a deep conversation. Woany’s [his assistant, Ian Woan] from the Wirral.” The home side ended frustrated by Burnley’s eagerness to run the clock down after the break as they defended the point that in effect secured Premier League survival and potentially damaged Chelsea’s hopes of finishing in the top four. “It’s difficult when you play against a team who have two chances and score two goals and didn’t want to play the game,” said David Luiz. “It’s anti-football, losing time [time wasting] all the time, especially when you have the ball. Their players went to the floor and stopped the game.” Tom Heaton was booked for time wasting in the 32nd minute and Zola admitted Burnley’s tactics had culminated in Sarri’s dismissal. “There was too much time wasting,” he said. “We wanted to win, they didn’t want to lose. It’s normal to have tension. Maurizio has ended up being sent off while trying to help: he went down there to help Kevin (Friend) and tell our players to get into position, but he was sent off. Burnley played their own game, and tried to get this point. We didn’t play enough in the second half, because there was too much time wasting, but they did what they had to do. We were not very happy because we thought five minutes wasn’t enough to compensate, so we are very disappointed about that.”<doc-sep>
LONDON -- Several individuals on the Burnley bench riled Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri by repeatedly calling him "s--- Italian" prior to the touchline brawl that marred Monday's 2-2 draw between the clubs at Stamford Bridge, sources have told ESPN FC. Sarri was sent down the tunnel in the closing minutes of the match by referee Kevin Friend and fourth official Roger East after losing his cool with members of Sean Dyche's backroom team, though the Burnley manager himself was not involved. Sources have told ESPN FC that Sarri's anger boiled over when he was branded a "s--- Italian" by multiple members of the visiting club, and Chelsea's head coach was so offended by what he had heard that postmatch media duties were delegated to his assistant Gianfranco Zola. Details of the words exchanged between the two benches are expected to be included in the referee's report given that East was in position to hear everything, and after the game Zola suggested that Chelsea could ask the Football Association to take action against Burnley for what was said. "He's very frustrated, so he'd prefer not to come over here," Zola said of Sarri. "He's been sent off. I think he's been offended as well, so he didn't feel it was the right thing to do, to speak to you. "I think he's been told something from their bench, but don't ask me exactly what. I don't want to go down that line, but we'll see what we can do about that. "I think there will be a follow [up] on that. Maurizio felt very unhappy. We understand it's a football game. You say words because of the adrenalin, but he wasn't particularly happy." Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images Emotions between the benches flared early in the game, with Dyche's assistant Ian Woan pointing out that Sarri was encroaching on the visiting technical area while Chelsea took issue with what they perceived as cynical Burnley time-wasting from midway through the first half onwards. Tensions escalated as Burnley stubbornly repelled waves of Chelsea pressure and acted to slow the game down in the closing minutes, and at the final whistle a mass of angry bodies from both clubs converged at the entrance to the Stamford Bridge tunnel. Burnley goalkeeping coach Billy Mercer had to be restrained after becoming incensed with Chelsea goalkeeper coach Massimo Nenci and fitness coach Paolo Bertelli, while defender Antonio Rudiger also waded into the melee despite currently nursing an injured knee. Both clubs are likely to face punishment from the FA for failing to control their players and staff, but individuals on the Burnley side could be punished further if they are shown in the referee's report to have provoked Sarri. After the game Dyche made a light-hearted effort to play down the ugly scenes as "handbags, bumbags, manbags," but did confirm he had sought out Zola at half-time to raise the issue of Sarri encroaching on the Burnley technical area. "He said at half-time [Sarri] is not quite getting it," Dyche said of his conversation with Zola. "I said he was going over into my box. He just said he didn't quite get the reality of it -- they're bigger in Italy. OK. He's been here a while, mind. I said fine and accepted it." When it was put to him that Sarri had exchanged angry words with members of his backroom team including Woan, Dyche joked: "I don't think the coaches' language skills are that good. It wouldn't have been a deep conversation. Woany's from the Wirral [near Liverpool in England]."