Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca confirmed that the club will launch an internal review into their disciplinary issues, after Nicolas Jackson was ruled out of the final two Premier League games of the season through his red card. The Blues are left without a recognised striker for the visit of Manchester United to Stamford Bridge on Friday night.
Jackson was given his marching orders after hitting his forearm in the face of Newcastle defender Sven Botman, proving costly as Maresca's outfit went down 2-0 at St James' Park. The head coach is facing a selection dilemma up front, with Christopher Nkunku and Marc Guiu also ruled out through injury. Jadon Sancho is ineligible to face his parent club.
"For me, it's not about the age," Maresca said when asked about his squad's relative inexperience potentially causing yellow and red cards. "No matter the age, you make a mistake it is okay because we all make mistakes. If you make the mistake again, then it is probably not the best."
He said that the club would investigate the potential issue, explaining: "During the summer, we need to see and review things. We need to see the yellow cards we can avoid next season. It's normal that after a red card, the light is on Nico but overall it is something that is not about Newcastle or the first game of the season, it is something you need to avoid if you can avoid."
Maresca admitted that he is still baffled and in the dark over whether his players do have a disciplinary problem, which has prompted the need for the matter to be investigated.
"I think against Newcastle, it was our first red card of the season," the Italian added. "We try to be intense and aggressive, I don't know, to be honest. It's a good question and one we need to analyse in the summer to see if we can do anything better."
Chelsea have received more yellow cards than any other league this season. Only four players have picked up more bookings than combative midfielder Moises Caicedo (10) this season also, while Levi Colwill has also been booked on nine occasions. Marc Cucurella, Enzo Fernandez and Pedro Neto have received eight yellow cards.
Chelsea's only other red card this season in the league was Cucurella's sending-off in the 2-1 win over Brentford in December.
Maresca described the latest offender, Jackson, as someone "intelligent enough to recognise there has been a mistake" after leaving his side without a number nine against United in the midst of a crucial battle for Champions League football.
Neto is likely to move to a central position, as he did earlier in the season when Jackson was injured, but Maresca prefers a natural striker when playing against a back five - which Ruben Amorim will certainly deploy in west London.
"It depends on the game plan," Maresca said about the prospect of his gameplan changing. "Against a line of five, I prefer a real number nine because we want to attack in behind. I like a false nine against four because we can link a bit more. We need to find a different solution."
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