Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has once again come out in strong defence of his players' conduct, firmly rejecting the notion that his squad suffers from a disciplinary problem. This comes in the wake of a heated 2-1 Premier League defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday, a match that saw Chelsea players receive five yellow cards and the manager himself serve a touchline ban.
Maresca's Firm Stance Amid Mounting Scrutiny
Despite the visible evidence of on-field bookings and official sanctions, Maresca remains unwavering in his opinion. Analysing the match against Villa, the Italian coach stated he did not perceive a lapse in discipline from his team. "Again, we need to analyse every yellow card. But I didn't have the feeling [against Villa] that there was a disciplinary problem," Maresca asserted.
Ironically, Maresca was forced to watch the clash from the back of the press box at Villa Park. This was his second touchline ban of the season, a result of accumulating too many yellow cards for his own conduct in the technical area. Yet, even from afar, he continues to back his players' temperament.
A Costly Habit: Fines and Red Cards Pile Up
The statistics, however, tell a compelling story of a team frequently crossing the line. Chelsea's disciplinary record has proven expensive this season. The Football Association (FA) has fined the club twice for amassing too many bookings in single games.
A £25,000 penalty was imposed after September's loss to Manchester United, followed by a heftier £50,000 fine after the 2-2 draw at Newcastle in December. The game against Aston Villa was particularly precarious; Chelsea was just one yellow card away from triggering a third fine, which would have amounted to £75,000.
The issue extends beyond yellow cards. The first half of the campaign has seen a worrying number of red cards shown to Chelsea personnel. Alongside Maresca, players Joao Pedro, Trevoh Chalobah, Robert Sanchez, Moises Caicedo, Liam Delap, and Malo Gusto have all been given their marching orders.
Focus on the Future: Ending the Year on a High
Looking ahead, Maresca is determined to steer his team back to winning ways. With Chelsea dropping points in their last two league matches, the upcoming home game against Bournemouth on Tuesday has gained significant importance. Currently sitting fifth, Chelsea trails league leaders Arsenal by 13 points.
"It's become very important to finish the year in the best way. For sure it will be another tough game, because they are all the same. But we need to win games as soon as possible," the manager emphasised.
Reflecting on the Villa performance, Maresca expressed satisfaction with the first half, where Chelsea dominated possession and prevented the hosts from registering a shot on target. He acknowledged a recurring pattern the team must address. "I don't think it's random when something continuously happens. We need to understand why no matter if we're winning, drawing or losing, (if) we concede a goal, we lose the control a little bit," he analysed.
The former Club World Cup-winning coach concluded with a note of optimism, urging his team to stay confident and aim to close the gap on the teams above them in the table. The clash with Bournemouth now presents a critical opportunity for Chelsea to curb the disciplinary narrative and secure a much-needed victory.
