Pioli refuses to discuss Tomori dismissal after controversial red card in Chelsea defeat

Milan head coach Stefano Pioli refused to discuss Fikayo Tomori’s controversial red card after the Champions League defeat to Chelsea, stating “it seems too obvious to me”.

The Rossoneri suffered their fifth successive home loss against English opposition in the competition as first-half goals from Jorginho and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang settled the Group E clash at San Siro.

However, the pendulum swung firmly in Chelsea’s favour in the 18th minute when former Blues defender Tomori was shown a straight red card by referee Daniel Siebert following a tangle with Mason Mount in the box with the England international through on goal.

Tomori had fallen on to the wrong side of Mount, though may feel hard done by after the Chelsea forward managed to stay on his feet and fire a shot at goal, leaving Pioli frustrated by the decision.

“The game began, and the feeling was to be able to play a good game,” Pioli told Mediaset. “Then, [the] penalty and dismissal changed everything, Chelsea did not need to play in numerical superiority.

“I don’t want to review the episode, it seems too obvious to me. I do not want to comment. I told the referee what I think; I don’t even speak such fluent English, but I think he understood.”

Not our night. #ACMCHE #UCL #SempreMilan @oppoitalia pic.twitter.com/b5FtNzo2HK

— AC Milan (@acmilan) October 11, 2022

Defender Pierre Kalulu concurred that the whole complexion of the contest turned on the incident as Milan missed the opportunity to move top of the group.

“If Mount gets to score the goal, I don’t know if the referee would have whistled and given the red,” Kalulu said.

“For me, this type of foul is very light. At this level – in the Champions League – it is a bit difficult to accept.

“We wanted to play another game, with determination and the will to be present in all the duels. After the dismissal, it was another match.”