Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers confirmed he replaced striker Mario
Balotelli at half-time in the Champions League clash against Real
Madrid for tactical reasons and hinted the striker will be punished for swapping his shirt with Pepe as he left the field.
Balotelli has struggled to make his mark at Liverpool since his 16
million pound move from AC Milan in August, scoring just once in the
Champions League, and his withdrawal at the break added to a growing
list of frustrating performances.
"It was just tactical," Rodgers told Sky Sports
when he was asked to explain his substitution of the Italy
international. "We needed a bit more intensity and a bit more work rate
through the middle. We had to occupy their centre-halves a little bit
more.
Balotelli was seen swapping shirts with Pepe as he headed down the
tunnel at the interval, and the action disappointed his manager.
"That is the first I have heard of that," he said. "It's something I don't like to see.
"I've seen it happening in other leagues in other countries, but it
is something that doesn't happen here. We had a [similar] incident last
year with a player and I dealt with it and if that's the case, I'll deal
with it again."
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