Dusan Tadic
Dusan Tadic has hit out at referee Gianluca Rocchi for ‘stealing’ victory from Ajax following their 4-4 draw with Chelsea in the Champions League.
Ajax were leading 4-2 at Stamford Bridge before conceding a penalty after Rocchi adjudged Joel Veltman to have handled the ball inside the box.
As Ajax players protested the decision, Veltman was shown a second yellow card and Daley Blind was also given a second booking for a foul on Tammy Abraham in the build-up to the handball.
Jorginho converted the penalty from the spot and and Reece James then scored the equaliser on 74 minutes as Chelsea completed a stunning comeback.
After the game, Tadic vented his fury at Rocchi, who he blamed entirely for changing the course of the game and denying his side a certain win.
“We should just talk about our game because we were 4-1 up and everything was under control and then one man steals everything from us,” he said.
“It’s a big disappointment. We should talk about how Ajax played nice football but we cannot because one man came and stole everything
“We saw the situation. It’s a foul on Daley Blind. Then it’s not a second yellow for Daley Blind. Then it’s not a second yellow for Joel Veltman. Then it’s not a penalty.
“Never in my life have I seen a triple punishment. But everything started with the foul on Daley Blind. He was tackled by Christian Pulisic but then, yeah, it’s a big disappointment because I don’t like to make excuses.
“I don’t like to talk about someone else. I want to talk about how Ajax were better than Chelsea but we can’t because somebody destroyed our game.”