Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has declared himself "proud" of suggestions his players are reflecting his own behaviour, despite facing criticism and a touchline ban for his side's disciplinary record.
Touchline Ban Amid Growing Scrutiny
The Italian manager will serve a suspension from the dugout for Chelsea's Premier League clash against Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge. This follows his latest yellow card, received during the contentious trip to Newcastle United for vehemently protesting a refereeing decision.
Club officials reportedly presented Maresca with external commentary on Wednesday morning, which argued that the team's conduct was mirroring their manager's own touchline demeanour. The analysis is believed to have originated from a segment on the popular London Is Blue fan podcast.
A Pattern of Petulance?
Maresca's disciplinary issues are not isolated. He has received five yellow cards in the Premier League this season alone. These include bookings for his exuberant celebration of Estevao Willian's late winner against Liverpool, and further infractions in matches against Manchester United, Burnley, and Newcastle.
This pattern appears to have trickled down to his squad. Of Chelsea's 37 yellow cards this campaign, a significant 11 have been for non-foul offences like dissent. Senior figures such as Moises Caicedo, booked for sarcastically applauding an official, and goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, who charged towards a referee to complain, have been notably involved.
Maresca's Defence and Villa Challenge
When questioned on the need for improvement ahead of the Villa fixture, which he will watch from the press box, Maresca offered a defiant response. "The club this morning showed me a comment from some of you that said the team reflect the manager and I'm very proud of that," he stated.
He contextualised the issue by pointing to the youth of his squad, arguing they must be allowed to make mistakes as part of their development. "The youngest squad in the Premier League... I like to analyse different situations. For sure, it's something we can do better," he conceded.
With Maresca banned, assistant Willy Caballero is set to take charge in the technical area against a formidable Aston Villa side riding a ten-game winning streak. The match also sees a potential return for Jamie Gittens from a shoulder issue, though Jorrel Hato is ruled out.
Maresca also discussed the evolving role of Reece James, now deployed more in midfield, highlighting efforts to manage his fitness. "As a midfielder we help him... we want to avoid him doing big sprints that could probably cause him some problems," he explained, underscoring the player's growing importance.
