Chelsea’s season might be defined as much by their cards as by their goals.
Despite flashes of brilliance, the Blues have developed a worrying habit — seeing red far too often.
Across competitions, from the Premier League to the Champions League and even the Carabao Cup, Enzo Maresca’s side have managed to get players sent off in six of their last nine games.
For a team still trying to find its rhythm under a new manager, it’s a self-inflicted wound that keeps reopening.
The Smart Striker Who Lost His Cool
It’s ironic that one of the most intelligent players in the squad — literally — is now the latest to add to Chelsea’s mounting discipline problems.
Liam Delap isn’t just good at football; he’s something of a mathematical prodigy.
Club staff discovered his genius when he casually rattled off cube roots during a team photoshoot — without breaking a sweat.
But no matter how sharp his mind might be, even Delap can calculate what his reckless second yellow card against Wolves means.
It leaves Chelsea’s record looking ugly: six reds in nine matches, and more than 12 percent of the season spent playing with ten men.
A Team Hurting Itself
It’s a statistic that doesn’t lie — Chelsea are damaging their own progress.
They’ve collected red cards in every competition except the FA Cup, turning “discipline” into a word the club desperately needs to rediscover.
Even Maresca himself isn’t entirely innocent. His wild touchline celebration against Liverpool, while heartfelt, earned him a red too.
So, when he calls his players out for their rashness, there’s a bit of irony in the air.
Still, Maresca’s frustration has boiled over. He’s stopped defending the indefensible and started calling the behavior what it is — embarrassing and stupid.
A Breakdown of Chelsea’s Red Card Chaos
Let’s walk through the biggest offenders, their moments of madness, and just how much their poor judgment has cost the team.
Robert Sanchez vs. Manchester United
Idiocy rating: 3/10
In just the fifth minute at Old Trafford, goalkeeper Robert Sanchez made the kind of decision that makes fans groan.
With United’s Bryan Mbeumo chasing a long ball, Sanchez charged out of his box and brought him down.
It was a textbook red — automatic, unnecessary, and ultimately costly.
Maresca later admitted he’d rather have conceded a goal than lose his keeper so early.
Trevoh Chalobah vs. Brighton
Idiocy rating: 4/10
This one was a domino effect of poor decisions. Reece James went down injured, Andrey Santos misplaced a pass, and Chalobah panicked.
His desperate lunge on Diego Gomez denied a clear scoring chance and left Chelsea down to ten.
From leading 1–0, they crumbled to a 3–1 defeat.
Joao Pedro vs. Benfica
Idiocy rating: 6/10
Joao Pedro’s double yellow was a mix of misfortune and foolishness.
His first booking was soft, but his second — a high boot that almost caught an opponent’s head — was completely avoidable.
Even Maresca had to laugh, noting his team’s ability to win despite being short-handed.
Enzo Maresca vs. Liverpool
Idiocy rating: 3/10
Yes, even the boss made the list. After Estevao’s dramatic stoppage-time winner against Liverpool, Maresca lost himself in the moment and sprinted down the touchline, forgetting he was already on a yellow.
The red that followed felt harsh, but it highlighted how emotion is clouding judgment across the club.
Malo Gusto vs. Nottingham Forest
Idiocy rating: 7/10
When you’re three goals up, the last thing you should do is get sent off — but that’s exactly what Malo Gusto did.
A needless second yellow for a wild tackle on Neco Williams turned an easy victory into another example of Chelsea’s indiscipline.
Liam Delap vs. Wolves
Idiocy rating: 10/10
The newest and worst addition to Chelsea’s list came courtesy of Liam Delap.
Introduced late in the game, he picked up a yellow for shoving an opponent and then followed it up with an even worse challenge minutes later.
Maresca didn’t hold back afterward — calling the incident “embarrassing,” “stupid,” and “selfish.”
The outburst marked a turning point. For the first time, the manager publicly admitted the problem, showing that Chelsea’s red-card addiction has reached a breaking point.
What the Experts Think
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg weighed in, saying Chelsea’s issue isn’t about being a “dirty” team — it’s about poor discipline and decision-making.
His advice? Call in the professionals. Invite the PGMOL (the body overseeing referees) to Cobham to show the players exactly what they’re doing wrong.
He also reminded fans that referees don’t enter games looking to hand out cards — but Chelsea have simply given them every reason to.
Facing Spurs with a Lesson to Learn
Chelsea now head into their clash with Tottenham knowing they can’t afford another meltdown.
They’ve turned too many games into uphill battles of their own making.
For Maresca and his men, the message is clear: talent and tactics mean nothing if discipline keeps undoing the hard work.
Whether they’ve truly learned that lesson — well, the next match will tell.