Mane is my brother but he deserved a red card, Mendy says

Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy believes Liverpool forward Sadio Mane should have been sent off for elbowing teammate Cesar Azpilicueta on Sunday.

The 29-year-old Senegal international says his countryman did not deserve to be on the pitch after one minute in the thrilling 2-2 draw between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.

Mane received a yellow card for the elbow challenge on Azpilicueta as the two jumped for a high ball – a decision Chelsea players were left furious with. Mane then went on to open the scoring in the ninth minute.

Salah would put the Reds 2-0 up before Chelsea drew level with two quick goals just before half time.

Asked after the game if Mane should have been sent off for the challenge, Mendy told RMC Sport as quoted by Daily Mail: “Sadio is my brother, my compatriot. But he should not have stayed on the pitch after one minute.”

The incident also left Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel fuming as he insisted Mane should have been handed a straight red card.

Tuchel said: “I am not a friend of early red cards. I hate to say it because I love Mane and he is a nice guy and top player, but it is a red card.

“The elbow is in the face – it doesn’t matter if you do this after 20 seconds or 20 minutes.”

Mendy and Mane have already travelled to link up with Senegal ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations which kicks off in Cameroon on January 9.