Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca addressed growing questions about player discipline following a string of red card suspensions across recent matches.
Speaking ahead of their Champions League fixture against Ajax, Maresca admitted that the number of sendings-off is something the team must improve, describing some incidents as “avoidable” particularly Malo Gusto’s late dismissal at 0–3. However, he dismissed the idea of punishing players.
Maresca also confirmed that João Pedro and Pedro Porro are both suspended, while Liam Delap remains out and Enzo Fernández is being assessed after a light training session.
He praised the development of young players like Josh Acheampong, defended his trust in Mark Guy, and explained why leadership from players like Tosin is growing within the squad.
Asked about Chelsea’s adaptation to the Champions League after last season’s Conference League run, Maresca reflected on lessons learned from matches against Bayern Munich and Benfica, while preparing for Ajax’s classic style of play.
Despite injuries, rotation, and internal competition, the manager remained focused on consistency, resilience, and building a competitive culture without losing control.
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