Enzo Maresca blasted Liam Delap for his “very stupid” red card after Chelsea’s chaotic 4-3 Carabao Cup win over Wolves, warning his young side they must “grow up.”
Chelsea looked in full control after first-half goals from Andrey Santos, Tyrique George, Estêvão and Jamie Gittens put them 3-0 up, but Wolves roared back with a spirited second-half display. David Møller Wolfe’s brace and a goal from Tolu Arokodare made it tense before Gittens sealed the win.
Delap, returning from injury, was sent off late after picking up two yellow cards in just seven minutes, leaving Maresca furious. “It’s embarrassing,” he said. “After his first yellow, I told him four or five times to keep calm. But he struggles to listen.”
The Chelsea boss also urged his players to show more maturity after their sixth red card in nine games. “When Wolves scored, we panicked,” he admitted. “That’s part of the journey — we need to grow up.”
Wolves manager Vítor Pereira praised his team’s resilience, saying the second-half comeback showed the “spirit and character” needed to fight relegation.
