Fabregas apology to Klavan after red-card tackle
Cesc Fabregas Chelsea is sent off in the second half after receiving a red card against Liverpool during the 2016 International Champions Cup. Photo: Getty Images
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has revealed Cesc Fabregas visited the Liverpool changing-room to apologise to Ragner Klavan after being sent off during the Londoners' pre-season victory in Los Angeles.
The 29-year-old was dismissed with 20 minutes to play after Gary Cahill's 10th-minute opener secured a winning start to their International Champions Cup campaign in the United States.
"In this period the fatigue can sometimes bring a bit of going too late," Conte explained, "and I know Fabregas is a good man and it is not his habit to have this sort of situation."
Fabregas, who has been linked with a move to join former manager Jose Mourinho at Manchester United, slid into a late challenge on Klavan, a new Liverpool signing from Augsburg.
The former Arsenal midfielder's future at Stamford Bridge remains in doubt after a poor showing during Chelsea's disastrous title defence last term.
"The way the ref was giving yellow cards then probably yes, it was fair," the Spaniard said at full-time.
"In the Premier League, probably you could get away with it. I got there late, he got a toe to the ball and then I was anxious to win the ball.
"It was a hard tackle, so I accept it and move on.
"(The referee) didn't have the game under control but that's what happens. At the end of the day it's a friendly."
