Enzo Maresca Blasts Liam Delap's 'Embarrassing' Red Card
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca blasts Liam Delap's 'stupid' and 'embarrassing' red card in the Carabao Cup win over Wolves.
“It's embarrassing when it is a red card like today. It's embarrassing, two yellow cards in seven minutes. Both I think we can avoid...”
Maresca Slams Delap's Red Card
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca expressed his frustration with Liam Delap after the young forward was given a straight red card in Wednesday's League Cup match against Wolves. Delap's dismissal came just seven minutes after he entered the game as a substitute.
The 19-year-old's reckless challenges earned him two yellow cards, and subsequently, a red card, leaving Maresca to lament the “stupid” and “embarrassing” decision that put his team at a disadvantage. Despite this, Chelsea managed to secure a 4-3 win over Wolves in the fourth round of the League Cup.
Liam Delap's return from a lengthy hamstring injury was short-lived, as he was sent off for two bookable offenses during Chelsea's 4-3 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup. Delap's first yellow card came when he wrestled Yerson Mosquera to the ground, and his second followed a reckless aerial challenge on Emmanuel Agbadou.
The red card was Chelsea's sixth in nine games this season, and manager Enzo Maresca was furious with his striker. Maresca described the red card as “completely unnecessary” and “stupid,” adding that Delap deserved the sending-off. Delap's suspension will see him miss Saturday's crucial London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.
“For today we have a very stupid red card, that was completely unnecessary, absolutely it was a stupid foul, we can avoid that,” Maresca said.
“I completely support and understand the red card like against Brighton and Manchester United that is difficult, but the red card against Nottingham and a red card today we can avoid that and we have to avoid that.
“It's embarrassing when it is a red card like today. It's embarrassing, two yellow cards in seven minutes. Both I think we can avoid.
“After the first yellow card I told him to four or five times 'keep calm', but he's a player when he is inside the pitch, probably he is playing the game for himself and he struggled to realise and to listen around him.”
Enzo Maresca says Liam Delap's red card was "very stupid" 🔴 pic.twitter.com/lru86QsxHf
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) October 30, 2025
Chelsea's journey to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals was marked by drama, thanks to Liam Delap's dismissal. Despite the setback, the Blues secured a 4-3 win over Wolves, with goals from Andrey Santos, Tyrique George, Estevao, and Jamie Gittens. They will now face League One side Cardiff City in the quarter-finals.
The match against Cardiff will take place in the week commencing December 15, with Chelsea traveling to Cardiff City Stadium. Cardiff, the lowest-ranked team remaining in the competition, earned their spot by defeating Wrexham 2-1. Other notable quarter-final matches include Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace, Manchester City vs. Brentford, and Newcastle vs. Fulham.
Wolves mounted a spirited comeback, with Tolu Arokodare and David Wolfe scoring crucial goals to reduce the deficit. However, Jamie Gittens' 90th-minute strike seemed to seal the win for Chelsea, slotting home a decisive goal. Wolfe wasn't done yet, scoring his second goal moments later, but it wasn't enough to change the outcome, as Chelsea held on for a 4-3 victory despite Liam Delap's red card.
No comments:
Leave comment here