Maresca not concerned with Chelsea discipline after another red card | OneFootball

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca says he is not concerned with his side’s red card count after Malo Gusto was sent off during their 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest.

After a goalless first half, two quick-fire strikes from Josh Acheampong and Pedro Neto at the beginning of the second half were followed up by a Reece James goal late on in the match, as the Blues saw the game out as comfortably winners.

Despite their issues in the opening 45 minutes, Maresca was delighted with the mindset of players and improved second half performance after making some sloppy errors that gifted Forest a couple of chances to score.

“I think in the first-half we struggled a little bit,” Maresca said. “Off the ball I think we were good. On the ball we made some mistakes where we conceded some moments to them.

“Second-half we were much, much better. For sure, we can do better in terms of red card. That is a mistake, 3-0, already one yellow card, we can avoid that.

“At the same time, I have to say that the desire from the players, to not concede a goal. It’s important also, in the last four or five minutes they were shouting at each other, ‘don’t concede, don’t concede’.

“So, the second yellow card from us, for sure we can avoid that. But also show the desire that they were playing for a clean sheet, they don’t want to concede nothing. And it’s important also this.

With Maresca already in the stands after his sending off for his over exuberant celebration against Liverpool, Malo Gusto would become the latest Chelsea player to receive his marching orders in the 87th minute for a poor challenge on Neco Williams. This latest sending off is the Blues’ fifth in six matches in all competitions.

The Italian believes there is nothing to worry about.

“It’s something that we can do better, but I’m not concerned. I know that there are some of you that say, why is he not concerned? I’m not concerned, because I like to analyse.

“It’s a moment that we consider a red card, yes. We can avoid that, yes, for sure we can avoid that.

“But also for me, the desire of the players is important. Today, with 3-0, 90 minutes the game is finished. Malo [Gusto] can avoid that, because it’s useless to make a second foul on a yellow card, for sure.

“But also the good part is, Malo is showing that he doesn’t want to concede nothing. They don’t want to concede a goal, they are playing for a clean sheet. It’s the balance, we can avoid that for sure.”