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chelsea Manager Enzo Maresca He stressed that discipline is “something we have to improve on” after his team received four red cards in their last six matches.
Speaking before the home match against Ajax Champions League On Wednesday, the Italian was asked if he thought his side had a discipline problem after being sent off defeat to manchester united And brighton as well as the latest won over benfica And Nottingham Forest.
And Maresca made reference to “completely avoidable” red cards in his response, explaining that “it’s something we can do better”.
“I think we’ll avoid some red cards,” he explained. For example, the last one [against Forest] I think it’s completely avoidable, because it’s 0-3, game over.
“I think Joao Pedro’s red card against Benfica was the last minute of the game, Malo was the last minute of the game, so it depends, they are all different types of red cards, but again, it is something we have to improve on.”
However, the 45-year-old offered few excuses for the incidents against Manchester United and Brighton, explaining to his team that “they don’t want to give up, they want to keep being aggressive”.
“If you see Trevoh’s red card against Brighton, you can say, OK, allow him to shoot, and then we will see,” said the Italian. “Man United is exactly the same. It’s a decision you have to take in one second, two seconds, so it’s not easy for the players.
“The last one, I think it was a big mistake, because the game is over, it’s 0-3. But again, they were shouting among themselves, they don’t want to concede, things like that also show a desire that they don’t want to concede, they want to be intense, aggressive.”
Maresca said he wanted to help his players understand what they could do differently rather than punish them, although the Blues boss lamented the recent series of red cards, pointing out that it had made it difficult to make team selections due to the number of injuries.
He added, “It’s very difficult, especially because most of the injuries we’ve had have happened a day before the game or two days before the game, when we already had an idea about the game.”
“But it’s something we’re trying to adapt and learn. It’s complicated for the players as well, because sometimes you plan for certain players, OK, you want to play in a week, and then suddenly you need other players because you think about injuries starting to happen.”
The Blues are currently missing five senior players including Cole Palmer, Liam Delap and Levi Colville through injury, although Maresca offered an update on both Delap and Enzo Fernandez, who were doubts ahead of the Ajax game.
“Enzo took part in the session yesterday, we have another session this afternoon, we will see if we make a decision with him tomorrow,” he said. “Liam is very close, he is not working with us yet, he is still out there, but hopefully he can start working in the next days.” [to] attend session[s] We have.”