Chelsea boss Antonio Conte left out Antonio Rudiger for his team’s 3-2 win over Southampton as punishment for his tactical criticism of his side’s collapse at against West Ham United last week.
The Germany international had been one of Chelsea’s standout performers before he was left out of Saturday’s comeback victory, with Gary Cahill preferred.
Rudiger is understood not to have been rested for the midweek game against Burnley.
Conte was happy with his players “great heart” to comeback.
“No (there is no injury), it was a tactical decision,” Conte told reporters.
This is just a week after Rudiger’s comments appeared to call Chelsea’s ability to see out games, after Hernandez’s goal denied them a win last week.
“I think in the second half we (could) finish the game (off),” Rudiger said last week. “But like the last few months, we didn’t and we (conceded).
“For me, it’s not easy to explain. I don’t understand why after 1-0 we always drop and let the opponent get more ball possession.”
David Luiz could miss the rest of the season while Ethan Ampadu will also likely not play again this season.
Meanwhile, Mark Hughes was unhappy that Marcos Alonso escaped a red card after a high boot caught Shane Long on his calf in the first half.
The Southampton boss faces Chelsea again next Sunday in the FA Cup and has called for the player to receive a ban, after referee Mike Dean appeared to miss it.
“It was a poor challenge, a really poor challenge,” Hughes said. “It should have been a red card, clearly. I am disappointed that the officials didn’t see it. They were all within a 10 or 15 metre radius. I think between the referee, linesman or fourth official that one of them should have seen it.
“It was a poor tackle, it was a tackle that thankfully had no drastic consequences for Shane. Thankfully he is okay, he just got a rake down the calf. Clearly, with Chelsea down to 10 men and us in first half on the ascendancy, it is a slant on the game really.
“Those are key moments and referees have got to get them right, maybe that’s why the (Premier League) referees are not at the World Cup this year.”
