Enzo Maresca responds in a Premier League statement about the controversial Ipswich penalty
Enzo Maresca refused to criticize the decision to award Ipswich Town a controversial penalty in Monday’s 2-0 defeat by Chelsea.
In the first half, the excellent Liam Delap fell to the ground after colliding with reserve goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, who appeared to have pulled away from the challenge and was stunned when VAR refused to overturn the original on-field decision.
“The referee’s penalty award for Jorgensen’s foul on Delap was checked and upheld by VAR, who deemed there was enough contact for a penalty,” the Premier League said in a statement.
Maresca discovered Chelsea the players were not impressed but urged their team to continue quickly.
“They [the players] he said it was a bit soft, but we have to accept that it was a penalty,” Maresca said in his post-match press conference.
Delap, who shook himself off to produce a perfect low effort in an overall sensational display, insisted he felt enough contact to go to ground.
“I don’t know what got into me, but something did,” he said. “I just tried to get there before [Jorgensen] and he was coming out fast so I knew he was going to touch me if I didn’t go around him.
“We had three or four chances where we didn’t have a penalty that we probably deserved, so nice to get it and put it in the net. I’ve practiced them a million times so I just aim for the corner and put it there.”
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