Discipline needed from my players, says Chelsea boss Maresca amid recent spate of red cards for his players.
Enzo Maresca vows not to punish players for red cards but demands more discipline.
Although Chelsea’s disciplinary record has to improve, head coach Enzo Maresca is emphatic that he will never discipline his players for receiving red cards.
Malo Gusto was given an unnecessary second yellow card in the final moments of Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest, reducing Chelsea to 10 men for the fourth time this season. Chelsea will be without the suspended João Pedro when they host Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Chelsea, who have received 28 yellow cards across all competitions, appear to be making things too difficult for themselves, according to the statistics. Maresca, who was sent off against Liverpool this month and served a touchline ban at Forest, admitted that Gusto’s dismissal for a late tackle showed areas where his squad might exercise more restraint. They are currently at the bottom of the Premier League’s fair play table.
“It’s something that we can do better,” the Italian said. “The last one is completely avoidable, because it’s 0-3, the game is finished. For sure there is something that we have to improve.”
Maresca was asked whether he would try to stamp out bad habits by punishing his squad.
“I’m not that kind of manager to punish players,” he said. “I don’t think it’s the right way to do things. I prefer to help them to understand, and then do the right things. They are all different kinds of red cards, but if you concede four or five it’s something that we have to improve.
“I have four kids and when they do something wrong, I don’t punish them. I try to teach them to do the right things. I try to treat the players in the same way. I think the players have a system inside the changing room, so a fine is something that they manage.”