Enzo Maresca is right about big problem that could hold Chelsea back | OneFootball

Disciplinary issue is a major concern that needs addressing after ‘embarrassing’ Liam Delap red card

You start to think Chelsea enjoy making life hard for themselves.

The Blues had been cruising at Molineux, three goals up and already casting an eye on the quarter-final draw.

Delap’s sending off, though, was the crescendo of a manic second-half performance that saw Chelsea reduced to 10 men for the fifth time this season, as well as shipping three soft goals.

Chelsea were ultimately left grateful to Jamie Gittens for firing in a thunderous half-volley in the 89th minute.

Liam Delap was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in quick succession

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Gittens’ strike, with the score at 3-2, was a bolt from the blue that spared Chelsea’s blushes, but it could have been so much more straightforward for Maresca’s side.

Chelsea’s impetuousness continues to let them down and an infuriated Maresca finally admitted at full-time that his side have a discipline problem.

The Chelsea head coach has previously been reluctant to admit his side have a disciplinary problem, but even he seemed to have reached breaking point at Molineux.

As Chelsea proved in a scintillating first-half performance, they have the ability to challenge for silverware on multiple fronts this season.

They are, however, their own worst enemies.

If they are to make good on their undoubted potential they have to get a measure on their emotions.

Maresca labelled Delap as guilty of “playing for himself”.

Delap will miss Saturday’s game against Tottenham, leaving Maresca to call upon Joao Pedro, without a goal since August and nursing a groin issue, and the inexperienced Marc Guiu.

Jamie Gittens scored a crucial late goal for Chelsea at Molineux

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Delap, who has only just returned from two months out with a hamstring injury, let Chelsea down.

How can Maresca expect his strikers to score goals, when he can’t even rely on them to stay on the pitch?

It feels like Chelsea’s ill-discipline is a product of the frenzied atmosphere they create through their failure to control games.

Against Wolves they were firmly in control before Facundo Buonanotte ceded possession to allow Tolu Arokodare to score three minutes after the restart.

From there Wolves took ownership of a game they had, to that point, played no part in and they scored again through David Moller Wolfe.

Chelsea were 3-0 up and with a full complement of players heading into the second half.

Calm heads and leadership were all that were needed to navigate an inevitable Wolves reaction after the break.

But stand-in captain Tosin Adarabioyo was unable to cajole his side and the fact that a player brought in as an understudy has been thrust into a position of leadership speaks to the dearth of natural leaders within this Chelsea squad.

The plan is that players grow into leadership roles, Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez are becoming increasingly influential in this regard, but for now Chelsea continue to look around rather than within themselves for inspiration when times get tough.

The win over Wolves was a mirror image of their start to the season. In equal parts exhilarating and infuriating.