Man United star Lisandro Martinez sends message after horror Cole Palmer tackle vs Chelsea

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has posted a message on social media - after avoiding a late red card for his horror tackle on Cole Palmer in Sunday afternoon's showdown.

That flashpoint occurred in the latter stages of Chelsea's 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, as Martinez lunged in on Palmer, resulting in a yellow card. While VAR did initially review the challenge, it was ruled that while it was reckless, it did not endanger the Chelsea and England star.

Martinez picked up his fourth yellow card of the season, and is one booking away from a suspension. But Chelsea supporters reckon the nature of the challenge was worthy of a sending off and were left incensed by the decision.

Palmer was later spotted icing his knee, and after full-time Enzo Maresca said that he hopes the problem isn't too severe after Chelsea's medical staff were forced to monitor the issue. "He was there in the changing room with ice. We are waiting now. Hopefully, it's nothing important [serious]," the Blues' head coach admitted.

Taking to Instagram, Martinez shared a picture celebrating with his teammates and wrote: "Keep working and keep trying until the end, always as a team," followed by a flexed bicep emoji.

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher believes the defender was 'lucky' for his challenge on Palmer. "I think he's lucky," the one-time official told Sky Sports show Ref Watch.

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"His starting position is close to Palmer, if he makes that challenge, comes in from distance, speed and intensity that's when he'll be in trouble. Because he's so close to him, he doesn't generate that force.

"It's fleeting contact. Because it's such a short distance, then he doesn't generate that intensity."

The result at Old Trafford saw Chelsea move up fourth place in the Premier League table, after Moises Caicedo's equaliser cancelled out Bruno Fernandes' penalty for United.

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