Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo has defended Branislav Ivanovic after the defender was dismissed in the club's 3-2 Community Shield defeat to Manchester City.
Chelsea were 1-0 ahead before Ivanovic was dismissed for a tackle on Aleksandar Kolarov, but Di Matteo has insisted that he does not believe the tackle warranted a red card.
Di Matteo said: "The challenge had no intent to hurt the opposition. It was a sliding tackle and he got the ball as well.
"Sometimes a red card is given in those circumstances, sometimes it is not. But there was no intention to harm the opponent."
Ivanovic will now be suspended for Chelsea's Premier League opener with Wigan Athletic.
