Your later point is really intersting, it could blow in their face. Calling out ref in advance, fearing for safety etc etc; one mistimed tackle and the ref could red one of them (thiago obviously)
I think Ancelotti will make his team aware of what is to come. Obviously if you pretend to be whiter than white, then are stupid enough to try and kick your opponents, it will backfire. I just hope we are smart enough to;
1) Make no silly tackles
2) When a bad tackle is made, surround the ref, role around, make a huge deal of it.
If you look at our team that we will be oplaying, outside of Holgate it's difficult to think of any who really tackles. Davies used to a bit, but even he intercepts more now. Doucoure is really good at intercepting, as is Godfrey.
Edit- oh and Richarlinson, he needs to avoid doing anything stupid. But the rest generally don't, and in honesty shoudn't.
On them, you are right about Thiago, he throws in numerous poor tackles. Not red cards but probably yellow card type tackles and gets away with them. I hope we writhe around in agony if he does one.
If they go into this match the way some of their typically noncey fans are saying about trying to settle a percieved injustice, that will play right into our hands in my view. I am very happy to have them lose their rag and try to hurt us, in the era of VAR, you won't get away with it.
