Liam Delap’s red card against Wolverhampton Wanderers left Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca fuming.
The positive news is that the Blues are into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, beating Wolves 4-3 at Molineux Stadium in a thriller.
In fairness, there were some standout displays from the visitors, including Estevao Willian. Jody Morris even raved about Estevao after the youngster’s third goal of the season across all competitions.
On the flip side, there were also some shaky performances from some in Chelsea colours.
Liam Delap, who was making his first appearance since August because of injury, made a nightmare return. After entering the action on the hour mark, the striker picked up two needless yellow cards to receive his marching orders.
Unsurprisingly, Chelsea fans ripped into Delap for the way he was sent off against Wolves.
Liam Delap reacts after being sent off for Chelsea against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup.
Photo by Ben Roberts – Danehouse/Getty Images
What Enzo Maresca said about Liam Delap after his sending off
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca didn’t hold back in his post-match interview with his criticism of Delap for his dismissal against Wolves. In particular, he pointed out that the 22-year-old centre-forward has a real weakness in his game when it comes to a selfishness to play for himself.
When asked if Delap’s red card was deserved, Maresca responded via Football.London: “Absolutely, yes. Stupid foul, we can avoid that.
Maresca was then asked if he could get a message out to Delap to calm down after his first yellow card. He answered: “Yes, after the yellow card I told him four or five times to keep calm. But Liam is a player that when he’s inside the pitch probably he’ll be playing the game for himself and he struggles to realise and to listen around him.”
It couldn’t have gone much worse for Delap on his return to the side.
The young attacker can’t lose the brilliant aggression that he plays with on the football pitch, but he must mature and become a bit smarter when it comes to picking battles.
Even though Maresca has denied there is a disciplinary problem at Chelsea, the evidence is quite compelling because the red cards are piling up at Stamford Bridge this season. He surely can’t keep defending the group.
Chelsea striker Liam Delap walking off the pitch after being sent off against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup.
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
Who have Chelsea got in the quarter-finals?
Chelsea are one of seven Premier League teams still left in the competition, while League One outfit Cardiff City are also mixing it with the heavyweights.
Therefore, Maresca’s side should be quietly pleased about their trip to Wales to face Cardiff.
Arsenal v Crystal Palace
Cardiff City v Chelsea
Manchester City v Brentford
Newcastle United v Fulham
The Blues are now just two wins away from a cup final at Wembley Stadium, so that’s a superb motivation for this young group. Of course, they will need to play a lot better than they did in the second period against Wolves, where they nearly threw away a three-goal lead.