Chelsea coach Rafa Benitez has defended David Luiz’s late challenge on Brentford midfielder Jake Reeves in the FA Cup on Sunday.
The Brazil international clattered into the 19-year-old during the Blues’ 4-0 fourth-round victory over the League One side at Stamford Bridge.
Luiz only picked up a yellow card for the reckless challenge but Reeves had to leave the game for treatment and revealed he felt like he had been “knocked out”.
However, Benitez, whose side face Middlesbrough in the next round, has played down the incident by indicating it was far less reckless than many other tackles.
He told reporters: “I see hundreds of tackles in the league that are more dangerous than that one. I won’t say it wasn’t bad, it wasn’t the best, but a factor was the size of the other player.
“David Luiz is a great player and we have to be pleased he’s playing in the Premier League. It was bad luck.”
Reeves made his return for Brentford reserves against Bristol City on Tuesday after doctors cleared him from any serious injury, but the young midfielder is still unhappy with the challenge, even after Luiz apologised.
He said: “If you watch it again it does look like Luiz meant it and went for it, even if he realised afterwards it was wrong.
“I remember passing the ball off and I got a shoulder straight in the face. My head was all over the place and I started wobbling around like a boxer who had just been knocked out.
“I must have only been on the pitch for about eight minutes and then had to go off, so I wasn’t very happy.”
Source: Goal.com
