You could have forgiven Enzo Maresca for being angry with Moises Caicedo following Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal.
Caicedo got himself sent off in the London derby 38 minutes into the game, putting his teammates in a very unfavourable position.
Nevertheless, Chelsea were still able to secure a point and were even leading the match at one stage after Trevoh Chalobah’s goal.
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That may be one reason why Maresca decided against criticising Caicedo despite his dismissal.
Moises Caicedo of Chelsea is greeted by his manager Enzo Maresca, as he walks off the pitch after being shown a red card
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Enzo Maresca defends Moises Caicedo after red card in Chelsea’s draw with Arsenal
Instead of slamming Caicedo for getting sent off, Maresca questioned why Rodrigo Bentancur was not shown red for a similar challenge on Reece James last month.
The Chelsea manager also hailed Caicedo as a “top player”, even though he almost cost the team on the afternoon.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the full-time whistle, Maresca said: “I think the red card is the red card. I struggle to understand the different ways to judge. What about Rodrigo Bentancur to Reece James [in Spurs vs Chelsea]?
“Why is one a red card and one isn’t? I think it’s a red card tonight, it’s clear. Why the difference? It is what it is. Moises is always the same way. He’s a top player for us. The desire from him is to try and win the game.”
In Chelsea’s 4-3 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, Liam Delap was the man who was sent off on that occasion, and Maresca was not as kind with his words.
Enzo Maresca after Liam Delap is sent off during Chelsea against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup.
Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images
Enzo Maresca didn’t hold back after Liam Delap was sent off against Wolves
When Maresca was asked about Delap’s dismissal and Chelsea’s ill-discipline after the Wolves game, he said: “Stupid foul, we can avoid that. 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.”
Delap’s red card was a result of two silly cautions. You can understand why Maresca was so frustrated with him.
Can you name the two Chelsea stars who were sent off in the 2024/25 Premier League season? ð´ ð´
Referee Peter Bankes shows a red card to Marc Cucurella of Chelsea
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However, Chelsea still went on to win that match, whereas they drew with Arsenal following Caicedo’s ejection from the game.
A combative midfielder like Caicedo getting sent off is always possible, but his tackle was so needless and probably cost Chelsea all three points. They were the much better side before his exit and even after it.
Considering that, it would be fair to say that Maresca has gone quite easy on him, especially when you look at how he reacted to Delap’s sending off at Molineux. Hopefully Caicedo can learn from this, as he is not a player Chelsea can afford to be without.