Death, taxes & Chelsea's stupid red cards
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Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 30.10.25. | 11:53
Enzo Maresca had a lot to say after his team’s latest red card — their sixth in nine games
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca didn’t hold back on his frustration after Liam Delap saw red in the 4-3 Carabao Cup victory at Wolves, calling it "very stupid" and branding the Blues’ string of dismissals this season as "embarrassing."
Delap, returning from a 10-week hamstring lay-off, lasted just 26 minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute before receiving two yellow cards — first for pushing Yerson Mosquera, then for barging into Emmanuel Agbadou.
Another red card for Chelsea. Liam Delap needlessly sent off for two yellow cards on his return from injury. Delap will miss Spurs at the weekend.🟥 pic.twitter.com/lGPqU6VYPH
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) October 29, 2025
The 22-year-old forward will now sit out Saturday’s trip to London rivals Tottenham, adding to concerns over Joao Pedro’s fitness.
Asked if Delap deserved the sending-off, Maresca was blunt: "Absolutely, yes. Stupid foul. We can avoid that."
The red card came amid a dramatic Chelsea wobble. Despite a commanding 3-0 lead at halftime, Wolves fought back with three goals in the second half, with Jamie Gittens’ late strike just enough to see the Blues through to the quarter-finals against Cardiff City.
Enzo Maresca slams Liam Delap's 'embarrassing and very stupid' red card 😤
— Hayters TV (@HaytersTV) October 29, 2025
"Liam is a player when he's on the pitch, he's a little bit playing the game for himself and struggles to realise and listen [to those] around him." pic.twitter.com/9GRBa5OhUF
Maresca on Delap’s red card: “He’ll surely be punished internally. You can’t act like that when you’re already on a yellow.” pic.twitter.com/4jJJzL6rwL
— . (@CFC_Carneyy) October 29, 2025
Reflecting on the game, Maresca said: "The three goals we conceded, I think all of them we can avoid. For sure, today we also had a very stupid red card that was completely unnecessary." It was Chelsea's sixth red card in nine games, including Maresca's own dismissal for celebrating a last-minute winner against Liverpool before the international break.
When pressed about the wider issue of discipline — with Chelsea topping the Premier League in yellow cards over the past three seasons — the Italian added: "I completely understand when there are red cards like against Brighton (Trevoh Chalobah red) or Manchester United (Robert Sanchez red), that's difficult, but the red cards against Nottingham Forest and today, both we can and have to avoid."
ENGLAND LEAGUE CUP ROUND 4
Tuesday
Grimsby - Brentford 0-5 (0-3)
/Jensen 22, Lewis-Potter 26, Nelson 43, Carvalho 54 pen, Collins 75/
Wycombe - Fulham 4-5 on pen (1-1)
/Woodrow 4 - King 48/
Wrexham - Cardiff 1-2 (0-1)
/Moore 52 - Salech 13, Fish 71/
Wednesday
Arsenal - Brighton 2-0 (0-0)
/Nwaneri 57, Saka 76/
Liverpool - Crystal Palace 0-2 (0-2)
/Ismaila Sarr 41, 45/
Swansea - Man.City 1-2 (1-1)
/Franco 12 - Doku 39, Marmoush77/
Wolverhampton - Chelsea 2-3 (0-3)
/Arokodare 48, Wolfe 73 - Santos 5, George 15, Estevao 41/
Newcastle - Tottenham 2-0 (1-0)
/Schar 24, Woltemade 50/
