Enzo Maresca was far from happy with Liam Delap following his sending off in Chelsea’s 4-3 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
After coming on, Delap was handed two yellow cards, bringing his return to a premature end.
The striker was making his first appearance in two months after recovering from a hamstring injury but had a night to forget.
Maresca hit out at Delap after the game, but he is not the only player the Chelsea boss should be unhappy with.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca tells Liam Delap off after red card
Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images
Enzo Maresca will be disappointed with Facundo Buonanotte’s performance
Facundo Buonanotte has had a real opportunity to make an impression at Chelsea with Cole Palmer out injured, but he has not really taken any of his chances.
That was the case at Molineux. Wolves were torn apart by Jamie Gittens, Estevao Willian and Andrey Santos, but Buonanotte could not influence the game like the trio.
To make things worse, it was a simple pass that the Argentine got wrong that led to Wolves scoring their first goal of the night. Had Vitor Pereira’s men completed a comeback, he would have been partly at fault.
Buonanotte finished the game with zero shots, zero key passes, zero crosses and one error leading to a shot.
Facundo Buonanotte’s stats vs Wolves Total
Minutes 85
Goals 0
Assists 0
Shots 0
Key passes 0
Crosses 0
Dribbles (successful) 4 (1)
Errors leading to shot 1
Via Sofascore
Playing as an attacking midfielder, Maresca would have wanted a lot more from the Argentina international.
A Palmer return is not imminent, so Buonanotte should get some more opportunities in the coming weeks. He has to take them if he wants to stay at Chelsea.
Facundo Buonanotte of Chelsea battles for possession with Joao Gomes of Wolverhampton Wanderers
Photo by Brett Patzke – WWFC/Wolves via Getty Images
Chelsea shouldn’t try to sign Facundo Buonanotte permanently
Buonanotte is only 20 and has shown glimpses of his talent at Stamford Bridge. In fact, if it were not for his winner against Lincoln City, Chelsea may not have even made it to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
Simply put, Buonanotte has skill and will become a better player. However, the Blues need someone who can deliver from that No.10 position when Palmer is not around.
Right now, it does not look like Buonanotte is capable of doing that, so signing him permanently from Brighton & Hove Albion at the end of his loan may not be the wisest idea.