Maresca backs Delap and says striker apologised following red card against Wolves | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca has backed Liam Delap to bounce back from his red card against Wolves on Wednesday.

Chelsea will take on Spurs without striker Delap, who was sent off in their midweek win over Wolves following two bookings.

It was Delap’s first appearance after 10 weeks out because of a hamstring injury, but he was on the pitch for just 26 minutes before he was dismissed.

It was the Blues’ sixth red card in nine games and Maresca described Delap’s actions as “stupid” and “embarrassing” after the game, but softened his criticisms somewhat when asked ahead of their game with third-placed Tottenham. 

“I think that some of the red cards that we concede, we can avoid it,” he admitted. 

“If I say that we need to avoid a red card, it’s we need to avoid red card. I say what I think is correct to say. Sometimes we had a red card that was difficult to avoid and sometimes we had some a red card that we could avoid.”

As for how they might do that, he said: “It’s also something that we need to learn. Something that we have to do better. And for sure, no doubt that in the future we’re going to be better also on that.”

Asked if he had discussed the incident with Delap after the game, he responded, “No, I didn’t need to speak with Liam. I spoke with Liam, but Liam, he knows everything. He’s aware of the situation. He knows that he made a mistake. And full stop. No more than that.”

He added that the striker had apologised immediately to his team in the changing room after the game. 

As for the potential return of Cole Palmer, who is currently out with a groin injury, Maresca hopes to have him back soon.

“I just met him in the canteen for breakfast and I told him, I will say that in one week you are back,” Maresca joked. “He was laughing. Now with Cole, exactly the same plan. Wait and hopefully he can be back soon.”

Chelsea fans might be reassured by the improvement of summer arrivals Jamie Gittens and Alejandro Garnacho, who have already made 11 and seven appearances respectively for their new side, and Maresca seemed pleased with their progress so far.

“They are both adapting to our the way we work every day,” he said. “They are both doing well. This is what we want from our wingers, you know, score goals and assist and it’s good to have both doing well so we can choose one or the other one.”

Just three points separate the Blues in ninth and Spurs in third, so the stakes are high going into the clash.

Despite Tottenham’s poor home record this season in the league, with one win from four games, Maresca knows it will be a tough test.

“Tottenham, I think they are doing very good,” he said. “They finished last season winning the Europa League. They started very good this season and also because it’s a derby for sure it would be a difficult game.”