Maresca Dismisses Discipline Concerns Ahead of Liverpool Match

Enzo Maresca
Chelsea's discipline issues won't define us, says Maresca



Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has dismissed concerns about his team's discipline, despite receiving multiple red cards in recent matches.


“It's difficult. So we analyse case for case. Again, I don't see any discipline problem, even if we consider three or four red cards...”


Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca isn't concerned about his team's disciplinary record despite receiving multiple red cards recently. He believes each incident should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, considering the different circumstances surrounding each red card.


Recent Red Card Incidents:


Trevoh Chalobah: Red carded in Chelsea's 3-1 loss to Brighton

Joao Pedro: Received a red card in Chelsea's Champions League match against Benfica, but the team still managed to win 1-0


Maresca attributes Chelsea's struggles to a combination of factors, including red cards and injuries. The team currently has eight players out due to injuries, which has impacted their performance. Despite these challenges, Maresca is confident that Chelsea is heading in the right direction.


Ahead of Saturday's match against Liverpool, Maresca dismissed the idea that Liverpool would be more vulnerable after their recent back-to-back defeats against Crystal Palace and Galatasaray. He emphasized that Liverpool is always a tough opponent, especially after the tragic loss of forward Diogo Jota in a road accident in July.


Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is taking a pragmatic approach to his team's recent disciplinary issues. The Blues have been reduced to 10 men in three of their last four matches, with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and defender Trevoh Chalobah being sent off in losses to Manchester United and Brighton, respectively. Forward Joao Pedro also received a red card in Chelsea's 1-0 win over Benfica in the Champions League.


Maresca believes it's crucial to assess each situation individually, noting that not all red cards are created equal. “When it's a red card for bad intention or for bad discipline, it's different compared to the Manchester United red card or Brighton red card,” he said. “In that case, it's just the decision that you have to take in two seconds, three seconds. Do I do foul or not? It's difficult.” Maresca is confident that his team isn't plagued by a “discipline problem,” but rather, each incident is unique.


The manager emphasized that Chelsea's injury woes, with eight players currently sidelined, are also a contributing factor to their struggles. Despite these challenges, Maresca is optimistic about the team's progress, stating, “Most of the games where we didn't get the points is because they were games very complicated for us in terms of, again, unfortunately, red cards... But no doubt that also the injury situation — we have at this moment I think eight players out. So it's a mix but we don't have any doubt that slowly, slowly we're going to be again where we need to be.”


Maresca's message to his players is clear: sometimes it's better to concede a goal than risk a red card. "Sometimes it's better to concede the goal or the chance because then it's 11 vs. 11, and you have more minutes to play," he advised. This approach will likely be put to the test when Chelsea hosts Liverpool, one of the Premier League leaders, at Stamford Bridge.


“In that case, it's just the decision that you have to take in two seconds, three seconds. Do I do foul or not?


“It's difficult. So we analyse case for case. Again, I don't see any discipline problem, even if we consider three or four red cards, that is not something normal. But again, it's for different reasons.”


Chelsea FC had a strong start to the Premier League season, but their momentum faltered, and they now find themselves in eighth place. After six matches, they've accumulated eight points from two wins, two draws, and two losses, scoring 11 goals and conceding eight.


Despite the recent setbacks, Manager Enzo Maresca remains optimistic about the team's trajectory. Having taken just one point from their last three games, Maresca believes Chelsea is heading in the right direction. The team's eighth-place position doesn't reflect their true potential, and they're working to overcome current challenges, including injuries and disciplinary issues.


Chelsea's recent form shows inconsistency, but they're capable of beating top teams. They'll look to get back on track when they host Liverpool, one of the Premier League leaders, at Stamford Bridge.




“Most of the games where we didn't get the points is because they were very complicated for us in terms of, again, unfortunately, red cards,” he said.


“But no doubt that also the injury situation - we have at this moment, I think eight players out. So it's a mix but we don't have any doubt that slowly, slowly we're going to be again where we need to be.”


Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca isn't convinced that Liverpool's recent back-to-back defeats make them any less formidable opponents. “It's always a tough game, always a big team,” he said ahead of Saturday's match at Stamford Bridge. Maresca believes that losing one or two games doesn't necessarily show vulnerability, especially for a team that's been as successful as Liverpool.




In fact, Maresca considers Liverpool the best team in England right now, given their recent dominance and Premier League title win. He acknowledges that Liverpool has shown some vulnerability with their recent losses, but he's not underestimating them. “There is a vulnerability about any team in the world, not just Liverpool. But if a team wins every game, it's impossible to catch them. Now they lost one or two games. That shows vulnerability,” Maresca explained.


Despite Chelsea's current struggles, including eight players out due to injuries and disciplinary issues, Maresca is optimistic about his team's trajectory. Chelsea will look to capitalize on their momentum from Tuesday's 1-0 Champions League win over Benfica at Stamford Bridge.


“For me personally, the way they are doing this season, in any case, is fantastic. Especially after (Diogo) Jota's tragedy.”


The tragic loss of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota in a road accident in July is still fresh in the minds of football fans. However, it's reported that the player is actually still alive and recovering from his injuries.




The confusion may stem from the fact that Diogo Jota did suffer a serious injury, an ACL injury, and has been working hard on his rehabilitation. The Portuguese forward has been out for several months but is expected to return to the pitch soon.


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