'Plays the game for himself' - Maresca slams 'embarrassing' Delap in scathing rant

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has launched a scathing rant towards striker Liam Delap after his red card against Wolves.

The Blues striker was shown two yellow cards in the space of seven minutes, being sent off during a 4-3 Carabao Cup win on Wednesday.

Delap received two yellow cards in a matter of minutes to get sent off against Wolves

Delap received two yellow cards in a matter of minutes to get sent off against WolvesCredit: Getty

I rejected Chelsea manager's job to stay loyal and then got sacked six months later

Delap was just returning from a long lay-off due to a hamstring injury, playing his first game since August.

However, after just 25 minutes back on the pitch as he replaced Estevao in the second half, his night was cut short.

A foul on Wolves defender Yerson Mosquera in the 79th minute saw him pick up his first caution of the game as tensions rose.

Then, in the 86th minute, Delap challenged for a header elbow-first, clattering into Emmanuel Agbadou.

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Agbadou went down holding his head after the hit to the face, and a small scuffle ensued before Delap received another yellow.

The 22-year-old trudged off the pitch past his angry manager, who has no sympathy for him.

Instead, Maresca has put all of the blame on his returning frontman, criticising him in a very honest, angry press conference.

The Chelsea boss said: "It's embarrassing when it's a red card like today. Two yellow cards in seven minutes. We can avoid both. It's not good."

Maresca then brutally added: "After the yellow card, I told him four or five times to stay calm.

"When he is on the pitch, he sometimes plays the game for himself and struggles to see the others around him."

Maresca has been left enraged by Delap's sending off at Molineux

Maresca has been left enraged by Delap's sending off at MolineuxCredit: AFP

The Chelsea striker was unable to keep his cool after coming off the bench

The Chelsea striker was unable to keep his cool after coming off the benchCredit: Getty

Liam Delap Enzo Maresca

And Maresca couldn't keep his cool when talking about Delap

Seeing red...again

Delap's red card continues Chelsea's run of poor discipline, with the Blues receiving six reds in their last nine games.

The streak started with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez being given his marching orders against Manchester United.

Then, Trevoh Chalobah was sent off against Brighton, before Joao Pedro saw red in the Champions League against Benfica.

Maresca himself was given a red card against Liverpool after that, with Malo Gusto receiving two yellow cards at Nottingham Forest.

Chelsea then had some clean games against Ajax and Sunderland over the last week.

But now Delap has seen the club return to the red cards and that is something that has angered his boss hugely.

Chelsea continue to have problems controlling their discipline on the pitch

Chelsea continue to have problems controlling their discipline on the pitchCredit: Getty

Into the quarter-finals

Away from the disappointment from Maresca on Delap's red card, he will be looking ahead to the quarter-finals now.

And his side have been drawn away at Cardiff City.

League One Cardiff are the lowest-ranked side left in the Carabao Cup, in fact, they are the only team left that aren't in the Premier League.

They beat Wrexham to book a spot in the last eight and now they will have to pull off a giant-killing to reach the semis.