Enzo Maresca criticised Liam Delap for a 'very stupid red card' and called on his young Chelsea squad to 'grow up' after a chaotic 4-3 Carabao Cup victory over Wolves. The Blues progressed to a quarter-final tie at Cardiff, but lost Delap to suspension for Saturday's Premier League match at Tottenham.
Delap, returning as a substitute after two months out with a hamstring injury, was sent off for two yellow cards in seven late minutes. Maresca had no sympathy for the striker, saying: 'Yes, it's embarrassing when it's a red card like today, because it's two yellow cards in seven minutes. After the yellow card, I told him four or five times to keep calm. But Liam is a player that when he's inside the pitch, he'll be playing the game for himself and he struggles to realise and to listen around him.'
Chelsea led 3-0 at half-time through goals from Andrey Santos, Tyrique George and Estêvão, with Jamie Gittens providing two assists. However, Wolves fought back after the break. Tolu Arokodare pulled one back, then David Møller Wolfe scored twice to make it 3-3 before Gittens scored a brilliant winner to make it 4-2. Wolfe's second goal reduced the deficit to 4-3, but Chelsea held on.
Admitting his side panicked after Wolves made it 3-1, Maresca added: 'It's part of the journey of this team, this squad, that needs to grow up, to make experience to get better.' Chelsea have now had six red cards in their past nine games, including Maresca's own dismissal for celebrating a late winner against Liverpool.
Wolves head coach Vítor Pereira praised his team's character after they rallied from 3-0 down. 'This is one of the best groups of players of my whole career,' he said. 'They have the spirit, the will and the character to change the situation.' He took responsibility for making 11 changes from the weekend defeat, saying: 'When I change 11 players, I take the risk. I do it to give opportunities to players working hard in training.'
