Chelsea got a big win tonight, but one stain on the showing was Marc Cucurella’s red card. The defender picked up a second yellow for dissent after the full time whistle.
It was a moment from madness from the Spaniard – more akin to the sort of lapses of discipline we saw a lot last season. But in his press conference after the game, manager Enzo Maresca insisted that his team didn’t have issues in that area:
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Marc Cucurella red card.
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“No, no. I’ve said many times we can do many things better; the way we attack and the way we defend but also the way we need to manage some moments. This is probably one of the moments we can improve but overall, with the spirit of the team, we know that sometimes you can receive some yellow cards.”
But despite saying no, his answer is really saying “yes.”
“Probably the second one is not the correct one, or the correct thing to do, but there are things that we need to improve,” he added.
A group of Chelsea players celebrate by the corner flag at Stamford Bridge. (Image: Chris Lee - Chelsea FC)
A group of Chelsea players celebrate by the corner flag at Stamford Bridge. (Image: Chris Lee – Chelsea FC)
Maresca backs his players despite team-hurting suspension
The reason Cucurella’s indiscipline is so frustrating is because it means he’s suspended. That hurts the team, obviously. But Maresca pointed out that he trusts everyone in the squad, and he expects someone to step up as Noni Madueke stepped up today to replace the suspended Pedro Neto:
“Yes Cucu will be suspended but there will be another one in his place. Pedro [Neto] was suspended tonight and Noni’s [Madueke’s] performance was top. The way he worked off the ball, the way he sacrificed, the ways he fought off the ball. So in the moment they are suspended, another one will play and if the other one does good, we will see after they come back.”