Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca denies the team has a ‘discipline problem’ despite a recent spate of red cards.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has downplayed concerns about his team’s discipline following a series of red cards in recent matches.
The Blues have been reduced to 10 men in three of their past four games, with two of those matches ending in defeat. Despite the worrying trend, Maresca believes it’s essential to assess each situation individually rather than drawing conclusions about the team’s overall discipline.
“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,” Maresca 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?”
The Chelsea boss emphasized that he doesn’t see a discipline problem within his team, even considering the recent spate of red cards. “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,” he said.
Chelsea’s recent performances have been inconsistent, with the team dropping to eighth in the Premier League table after taking just one point from their past three games.
However, Maresca remains confident that his team is heading in the right direction. “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,” he said.
The team’s injury situation has also been a challenge, with eight players currently out. Maresca believes that this, combined with the red cards, has contributed to Chelsea’s inconsistent form. “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,” he said.
As Chelsea prepares to face Premier League leaders Liverpool, Maresca is focused on the task at hand rather than speculating about his opponents’ recent form. “It’s always a tough game, always a big team,” he said, highlighting the challenge that lies ahead for his team.
