• FA Cup

Benitez angry at lack of Torres penalty

ESPN staff
April 15, 2013
Benitez regrets Torres penalty decision

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Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez insisted his side should have been awarded a penalty in the dying minutes of their 2-1 FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City at Wembley.

With the Blues chasing an equaliser after having found a way back into the game through Demba Ba's spectacular effort, Vincent Kompany tangled with substitute Fernando Torres inside the area.

Benitez said replays showed the Belgian defender was pulling the striker's shirt, and that referee Chris Foy should have pointed to the spot, focusing on that incident rather than the unpunished foul by Sergio Aguero on David Luiz.

Benitez said: "For me, the main one [decision] is the penalty not given. The consequence could have been a red card and a penalty. It could change the game.

"Yes [they got it wrong]. It is something they have to clarify. I have seen the pictures. Kompany has the shirt.''

Talking about the Aguero challenge, he added: "I don't like to point at players in this kind of situation.''

And he denied he had said that John Terry, who was on the bench at Wembley, could no longer manage two games in a week - an angle some newspaper reports had taken.

"I am surprised with the headline,'' Benitez said. "I tried to say that, for some players, to play two games a week is not easy. It depends on the condition of each player. At this moment, Cahill, Ivanovic and Luiz are doing well, so we have to manage the squad.''

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