Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca did not mince words as he criticized young striker Liam Delap for what he described as a “selfish” and “embarrassing” red card during the Blues’ thrilling 4–3 Carabao Cup victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday night.
Delap, making his first appearance since August, was sent off just minutes after coming on as a substitute at Molineux Stadium. The 22-year-old received two yellow cards in the space of seven minutes, the first for wrestling Wolves defender Yerson Mosquera to the ground, and the second for a reckless aerial challenge on Emmanuel Agbadou.
Speaking after the match, an evidently frustrated Maresca expressed his disappointment at Delap’s lack of discipline, calling the incident “completely avoidable.”
“Today we had a very stupid red card, totally unnecessary,” Maresca said. “I can understand some red cards, like the ones against Brighton or Manchester United, where it’s a difficult game situation. But the one today, and the one against Nottingham, were just embarrassing. Two yellows in seven minutes, both avoidable.”
The Chelsea boss also revealed he had warned Delap multiple times after the first booking.
“After his first yellow, I told him four or five times to keep calm,” Maresca added. “But sometimes, he plays like he’s in his own world. He struggles to listen to what’s happening around him.”
Delap’s dismissal was Chelsea’s sixth red card in nine matches this season, a statistic that is starting to concern the Italian coach. His absence means he will miss this weekend’s crucial Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur.
Despite the setback, Chelsea managed to edge out Wolves in a pulsating contest. The London side raced into a 3–0 first-half lead through goals from Andrey Santos, Tyrique George and Brazilian teenager Estêvão, seemingly cruising toward the quarter-finals.
However, Wolves fought back valiantly in the second half. Goals from Tolu Arokodare and David Moller Wolfe reduced the deficit, before Jamie Gittens struck in the 90th minute to seemingly seal Chelsea’s victory. Yet, in a dramatic finish, Wolfe netted again moments later, leaving the hosts just one goal short of a comeback.
Wolves manager Vítor Pereira, who has been under mounting pressure following poor league form, found some positives in his side’s performance. Despite being jeered at halftime with fans calling for his dismissal, the Portuguese tactician was applauded off after the spirited second-half display.
“We showed our supporters and ourselves that we can fight back,” Pereira said. “We just need one win to believe again. The second half showed what we’re capable of, energy, confidence, togetherness. We may be a small club, but if we fight like this, we can compete with anyone.”
Chelsea’s victory ensures their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, where they will look to build momentum under Maresca as the competition enters its decisive stage.
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