December 30, 2024
Chelsea under Enzo Maresca is doing well, but there are growing need to address the team’s disciplinary issues more seriously.
Marc Cucurella will miss the upcoming match against Everton due to a one-game ban. This ban comes from a reckless altercation with Kevin Schade after Chelsea’s win over Brentford, resulting in receiving a second yellow card.
If Chelsea wins against Everton, they will move to the top of the table before Liverpool plays against Tottenham Hotspur later in the day. However, winning won’t be easy because Chelsea has only won once in their last seven league visits to Everton, often leaving without any points.
Cucurella has been a key player for Maresca, and losing him ahead of the game at Goodison Park would be a setback. He missed the previous trip to Merseyside against league leaders Liverpool. This was also due to a ban on five yellow cards. Similarly, Wesley Fofana was absent from that match. While many factors led to Chelsea’s 2-1 loss in that game, not having two key defenders certainly hurt their chances.
In the match against Brentford, Pedro Neto became the third player to miss a game because of the five-yellow card rule. Although Chelsea managed to win that match, Neto’s absence was felt.
Chelsea’s current form is impressive, having won five Premier League games in a row, a record for this season. However, to improve as a team, they must recognise their weaknesses across all areas, including discipline.
The cut-off for avoiding a ban from five yellow cards is 19 Premier League games. Chelsea has played only 16. But at least seven players, including key ones like Nicolas Jackson and Robert Sanchez, are at risk of receiving additional yellow cards.
Sometimes, a player receives a booking due to different factors, including the referee’s strictness. While some might sympathise with Cucurella for his aggressive attitude being the reason for his card, some bookings can be interpreted positively.
Tackling an opponent or committing a ‘tactical foul’ can show that a team is not afraid to fight back or prioritise teamwork over individual play. However, there is a limit to how many yellow cards players should receive.
Picking up too many can be counterproductive. Chelsea is currently performing well, but they need to improve in this area. Missing players due to suspensions can affect their performance and disrupt their rhythm.
Chelsea has received 50 yellow cards this season, which is more than any other team in the Premier League. Last season, they set a record with 105 yellow cards under Mauricio Pochettino. Many of the same players are still on the team. This suggests they haven’t learnt from their past mistakes.
When asked about the situation in October, Maresca dismissed it as a discipline issue. He said he hadn’t spoken to the players about it. At that point, Chelsea had already collected 21 yellows in just six matches. This includes eight in a single game against Bournemouth. This match also set a Premier League record for the most yellow cards shown in one game.
As a result, Chelsea was fined £25,000 by the Football Association for having at least six yellow cards in a match. They were fined an additional £50,000 and £75,000 for similar incidents against Nottingham Forest and Newcastle, respectively.
Chelsea is the first Premier League team to receive at least six yellow cards in three separate games. This is not a good situation, and now Cucurella has become the first Chelsea player to be sent off in the league this season.
Pressed by this reporter on whether he thinks they have a discipline issue, Maresca played it down again. He said: “No, no. I’ve said many times we can do many things better; the way we attack and the way we defend but also the way we need to manage some moments.
“This is probably one of the moments we can improve, but overall. With the spirit of the team, we know that sometimes you can receive some yellow cards. Probably the second one (for Cucurella) is not the correct thing to do, but there are things that we need to improve.
“Yes, Cucu will be suspended, and there will be another one in his place. Pedro (Neto) was suspended, and Noni’s (Madueke’s) performance was top. So in the moment they are suspended, another one will play, and if the other one does well, we will see after they come back.”
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