Enzo Maresca tore into Liam Delap after the striker’s “very stupid” red card nearly cost Chelsea their Carabao Cup tie against Wolves.
Chelsea led 3-0 at half-time through goals from Andrey Santos, Tyrique George, Estêvão and Jamie Gittens but collapsed late on after Delap — returning from injury — picked up two yellow cards in just seven minutes. Wolves fought back to 4-3, with David Møller Wolfe scoring twice after Tolu Arokodare’s opener, but Chelsea held on to reach the quarter-finals.
“It’s embarrassing — two yellows in seven minutes,” Maresca said. “I told him to keep calm, but he struggles to listen. This team needs to grow up.”
The red card was Chelsea’s sixth in nine games, adding to Maresca’s own recent sending-off. Wolves boss Vítor Pereira praised his side’s spirit, saying: “If we keep this fight, we can avoid relegation.”
Chelsea will face Cardiff in the next round but must face Tottenham on Saturday without Delap.
