Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has called Liam Delap’s red card against Wolves ’embarrassing’ and said the forward ‘struggles to listen’.
Delap was sent off after coming on as a substitute during Chelsea’s 4-3 win at Wolves in the Carabao Cup. The forward was making his first appearance since August 30 after a hamstring issue, but picked up two needless bookings late on.
The 22-year-old was cautioned after an off-the-ball clash with Yerson Mosquera, before catching Emmanuel Agbadou with his elbow just seven minutes later.
Delap’s dismissal was Chelsea’s fifth red card of the season already and Maresca was furious with the ‘stupid’ sending off. He criticised Delap for struggling ‘to listen to things around him’ when on the pitch.
Delap will now be suspended for this weekend’s Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur. Last season, the striker was the joint-most booked player in the Premier League (12) while at former club Ipswich.
“Very stupid red card that was completely unnecessary,” Maresca said.
“Absolutely deserved. It was a stupid foul. We can avoid that. I completely support the red card. After the yellow card, I told him four or five times, keep calm. But Liam is a player inside the pitch, playing the game for himself and he struggles to listen to things around him.
“It is embarrassing when it is a red card like today. It is embarrassing two cards in seven minutes, both we can avoid.”
Is Chelsea striker Delap banned in Premier League after EFL Cup red card?
Delap will be suspended for Saturday’s London derby against Tottenham. Cards in the Premier League and EFL Cup carry over to the club’s next domestic match. In contrast, FA Cup cards are exclusive to that competition only.
