Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca strongly criticized Liam Delap for his ill-advised behavior leading to a red card during the recent 4-3 victory against Wolves in the League Cup fourth round. Delap received two yellow cards in rapid succession shortly after being substituted in for his first appearance since August.
The first yellow card was a result of a physical tussle with Yerson Mosquera, while the second was due to a reckless challenge on Emmanuel Agbadou. This incident marked Chelsea’s sixth red card in nine matches this season, much to Maresca’s dismay, especially considering Delap’s return from a lengthy hamstring injury absence and subsequent unavailability for the upcoming crucial London derby against Tottenham.
Maresca expressed his frustration, labeling the red card as “stupid” and “embarrassing,” emphasizing the need to avoid such unnecessary fouls. Despite offering guidance to Delap to remain composed after the initial warning, Maresca highlighted the player’s struggle to heed advice during the intense game moments.
Although the red card somewhat overshadowed Chelsea’s thrilling advancement to the quarter-finals, where they are set to face Cardiff, the team initially dominated with goals from Andrey Santos, Tyrique George, and Estevao securing a 3-0 lead at halftime. Despite a late surge from Wolves with goals by Tolu Arokodare and David Wolfe, Jamie Gittens’ 90th-minute goal appeared to seal Chelsea’s victory. Wolfe’s subsequent goal added tension, but Chelsea managed to secure the win despite Delap’s dismissal.