Enzo Maresca tore into Liam Delap after the striker’s “very stupid red card” nearly derailed Chelsea’s wild 4-3 Carabao Cup win over Wolves.
Chelsea led 3-0 at half-time thanks to goals from Andrey Santos, Tyrique George, Estêvão, and Jamie Gittens, but Wolves fought back with a spirited second-half display. Two goals from David Møller Wolfe and another from Tolu Arokodare turned the tie into a nervy finish.
Delap, returning from a hamstring injury, was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in just seven minutes for reckless challenges. His dismissal — Chelsea’s sixth in nine games — drew a furious response from Maresca.
“It’s embarrassing,” the Chelsea boss said. “I told him four or five times to calm down, but he didn’t listen. This team needs to grow up — it’s part of the journey.”
Wolves manager Vítor Pereira praised his side’s second-half fight, calling his players “one of the best groups of my career” despite another defeat.
Chelsea progress to face Cardiff in the quarter-finals, but Delap will miss the upcoming league clash with Tottenham after his costly lapse in discipline.
