Steve Bruce was a little upset with the challenge that Leicester City midfielder Hamza Choudhury had on Matt Ritchie late in the first half last night. He felt it was a reckless challenge and deserving of a straight red card.
However, Choudhury ended up with just a yellow, but Brendan Rodgers would pull him from the game to start the second half.
This is what Steve Bruce said last night about the challenge:
“I have to say that the mess Matt Ritchie’s in, the referee is five yards away and I know there will be VAR tonight or whatever, it’s a horror challenge.
“I don’t want people sent off or red cards, but when I see the state of Matty’s leg – we fear ankle damage, he has three cuts which all need stitches, he is a mess and the referee if five yards away from that, which is difficult to take.
“I don’t want to see anyone sent off, but when it’s horror challenges like that, that wasn’t good.
“No wonder he didn’t come out for the second half.
“I didn’t have to see it back, I seen it there.
“It’s a horror one, it’s over the top. We haven’t got many angles on it, but believe me, it’s horrible.
“He has been stitched in three different wounds, and obviously we will have to wait for the scans to see if there is ankle damage, but the kid is in a mess.
“I never want to see anyone sent off, but when you are over the top of the ball, and you are lunging in like that, you can damage people and nobody wants to see that.”
Bruce was obviously reacting to the injuries his player has suffered. That made it all the more emotional for the coach. However, at no point did Bruce suggest that Choudhury meant any harm to Matt Ritchie. Bruce was pointing out that the challenge was a bad one that has injured his player.
Matt Ritchie– moments after Choudhury tackle
Leicestershire Live has published an explanation from Choudhury about his tackle and also his response to Steve Bruce.
Here is what Choudhury has said:
“It was a 50/50, and he has pulled out at the last minute which has made the tackle look a lot worse.
“I don’t know what I can say, it’s what I do, I try to tackle – I’ve never gone in trying to hurt someone.
“Unfortunately, for Ritchie it has, and I hope he gets better very soon.
“And for Steve Bruce to say – I know he was a tough-tackling defender in his day, so people are quick to forget how he played football.”
We do not think that Choudhury meant any harm to Matt Ritchie, though it was a rash tackle. He leapt at the ball with his studs showing and as Ritchie planted his right leg, Choudhury’s heel caught Ritchie’s ankle.
It doesn’t look like Ritchie pulled out of the challenge as Choudhury suggests. Ritchie just stayed on his feet as went after the ball, while Choudhury jumped in.
As far as Choudhury’s comments about Steve Bruce, it’s probably best to just wish Ritchie well. The tackle was a bad one, and the game has changed since Steve Bruce’s playing days.
Bruce also never said Choudhury showed any intent to harm. It was just a reckless tackle in which the players made contact at the worst possible moment for Matt Ritchie.
84 comments so far
Bruce
Aug 29, 2019 at 9:53 PM
Comment #81I admit I uses some of his words, I think he’s a funny harmless guy.
bill
Aug 29, 2019 at 9:54 PM
Comment #82Jail,
Some people need to get a real life without annoying others. We debate, argue, etc but we generally respect each other as fans. Opinions are fine as long as they are based on something substantial. That is what debate is all about.
ToonMatt
Aug 29, 2019 at 10:18 PM
Comment #83I think the injuries are down to Bruce, he’s well known for his high intensity, army like training drills and plus the fact he’s a dinosaur of a manager.
I’ve heard from a reliable source that he’s been preparing for the winter break by watching Rocky 4 and plans on taking the team to Russia to carry tree trunks on their shoulders, whilst running up snowy mountains and chopping wood up with axes that Mike got on the cheap from a Canadian lumberjack firm that went out of business.
Munster Mag
Aug 29, 2019 at 10:40 PM
Comment #84Toonmatt you could be right. I cant imagine Bruce is cutting edge but there again people said he was 442 and totally lacking in innovation but the ex toon goalie who was with him at Hull, and wud therefore know, said otherwise. I wanted charnley to find a euro coach in the mould of the norwich guy but that was never going to happen in charnleys little england world. For now I am backing Bruce because I want nufc to win games. Im also fearing a defeat to watford but obviously hoping for best. It seems the football last night was fine from us according to lovely michael gray.