“Probably he is playing the game for himself” - Enzo Maresca blasts Chelsea star for ‘stupid’ moment in 4-3 win over Wolves

Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca has hit out at striker Liam Delap following his sending-off in their Carabao Cup meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Englishman had a short-lived return to action for the Blues as they claimed a hard-earned 4-3 win over Wolves to reach the quarterfinals.

Maresca failed to hide his frustration in his chat with reporters after the game, accusing Delap of being selfish with his actions on the pitch. He pointed out that the red card was completely unnecessary and 'stupid', particularly for receiving two bookings in the space of seven minutes.

"For today we have a very a stupid red card, that was completely unnecessary, absolute it was a stupid foul, we can avoid that. I completely support and understand the red card like against Brighton and Manchester United that is difficult, but the red card against Nottingham and a red card today, we can avoid that and we have to avoid that. "It's embarrassing when it is a red card like today. It's embarrassing. Two yellow cards in seven minutes. Both I think we can avoid. After the first yellow card I told him to four or five times 'keep calm,' but he's a player when he is inside the pitch, probably he is playing the game for himself and he struggled to realize and to listen around him", he said (via ESPN).

Enzo Maresca appeared to berate Delap as the 22-year-old trudged off the pitch after his red card in the 86th minute of the encounter. The former Ipswich Town star had been introduced off the bench for Estevao in the 61st minute following two months out with a hamstring injury.

Delap received his first yellow card for an off-the-ball incident with Yerson Mosquera before a reckless aerial challenge on Emmanuel Agbadou earned him his marching orders. Chelsea have now received a red card in six of their last nine games, pointing to a lack of discipline in their ranks.

Chelsea make history in Carabao Cup win over Wolves

Chelsea have added another record to their books after their 4-3 win over Wolves in their Carabao Cup Round of 16 at the Molineux Stadium. The Blues bounced back from their weekend defeat to Sunderland in the Premier League to progress to the last eight in the cup.

Enzo Maresca's side became the first English team in history to have four scorers aged 21 or under in the same game. They achieved this feat as 21-year-old Andrey Santos, 19-year-old Tyrique George, 18-year-old Estevao, and 21-year-old Jamie Gittens got the goals in their win.

Chelsea survived a second half fightback from Wolves, who scored through Tolu Arokodare and David Moller Wolfe (two). They also had to finish the game with ten players following a sending off for Liam Delap on his return to action.

Edited by Sulayman Salahudeen