Enzo Maresca was suspended for today’s match against Aston Villa for an accumulation of yellow cards.
Chelsea have picked up far too many silly yellow and red cards this season, and Maresca’s own ill-discipline on the sideline has been blamed for leaking into the Blues’ overall attitude.
Maresca fights back at ill discipline criticisms
Enzo Maresca speaks in his press conference ahead of the Aston Villa game.
Enzo Maresca speaks in his press conference ahead of the Aston Villa game.
But instead of apologising for that, the manager has defiantly said he’s “very proud” that his team reflects him, for better or worse:
“Listen, the club this morning showed me a comment from some of you that said the team reflect the manager and I’m very proud of that,” the Chelsea manager said.
“Because of the way the team is doing. The youngest squad in the Premier League. You also have to allow them some mistakes in terms of growing.”
It’s not clear what Maresca was shown, but Matt Law was on the London is Blue podcast this week saying exactly that, so we can only assume it was that clip. It’s funny to think of the media team and the manager being looped in on this sort of thing.
Maybe they’re reading these very words right here? We’re not sure this is a healthy feedback loop.
You can see the Law comments in the clip embedded here:
🤬 @Matt_Law_DT: For the manager to be on his second suspension before the halfway point of the season is absolutely insane. I think he's also only one yellow card from a European touchline ban as well. He's got to improve his behavior on the touchline.
🎧👉… pic.twitter.com/JR98a58FG8
— London Is Blue Podcast ⭐️⭐️ (@LondonBluePod) December 25, 2025
In other news…
Enzo Maresca admitted ahead of today’s game that he was frustrated that people were still talking about his comments from a couple of weeks ago relating to a lack of support within the club.
Maresca was also asked about Chelsea’s record against the top teams in the league and admitted there was room for improvement in that area as they prepare to take on an in-form Villa team who have surged ahead of them in the table.
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