Chelsea’s Red Cards This Season – Discipline Under Scrutiny

Chelsea’s red cards this season are having a huge, negative impact. Yet again, they were reduced to 10 men in their most recent loss against Arsenal. Chelsea’s ill-discipline has cost them in multiple matches and threatens their chances of securing Champions League football, which could have a detrimental impact on the club as a whole.

Chelsea now sit in sixth place and are six points off fourth, a guaranteed Champions League spot. We look at the red cards for Chelsea in more detail and analyse the impact of these red cards on their season.

Chelsea Closing in on Premier League Red Card Record, and It’s Costing Them

Points Dropped Under Maresca

Chelsea’s red cards this season haven’t been a result of the management or tactics. The Blues have seven red cards this season in the Premier League and nine in all competitions. Under Enzo Maresca, Chelsea received four red cards in the Premier League and six in all competitions.

Of the four red cards received under their first manager, Chelsea won one game, drew one and lost two. The losses came at the hands of Manchester United and Brighton. Against United, goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was sent off in the first five minutes. Chelsea went on to lose 2-1. Against Brighton, Chelsea were 1-0 up when Trevor Chalobah was sent off. Maresca’s men went on to lose 3-1.

Against Nottingham Forest, Chelsea were 3-0 up when Malo Gusto was sent packing in the 87th minute. This red card had no impact on the game due to the score at the time of the sending off and the time at which it happened. Interestingly, the game in which Moises Caicedo was sent off, at home to Arsenal, Chelsea rallied to record a draw, despite being a man short.

Interim coach Calum McFarlane also suffered from Chelsea’s ill-discipline. Marc Cucurella was sent off in the 22^nd minute of the away fixture at Fulham. The game sat at 0-0 at the time of the dismissal, and Chelsea went on to lose 2-1.

Of course, football isn’t played on paper; however, if, on paper, they hadn’t received these red cards, they’d have had a much better chance at securing points.

Recently Reckless Under Rosenior

Under the current coach, Liam Rosenior, Chelsea went 11 games without receiving a red card. It’s a low bar; however, it has to be celebrated.

In the past two games, however, Chelsea’s ill-discipline has crept back into their game, and it’s cost them. At home to Burnley, a game Chelsea should win if they have hopes of making the top four, Rosenior’s side were 1-0 up when Wesley Fofana was sent off. Rosenior would be forced to bring off Cole Palmer, replacing him with a centre-half to replace the dismissed man. Burnley would go on to score an equaliser, costing The Blues two points.

Their most recent red card was nothing but reckless. Having gone 2-1 down in the 66^th minute, Pedro Neto was shown a yellow card for ‘unsportsmanlike conduct’, whilst complaining about the goal scored. Three minutes later, the Portuguese winger hacked down Gabriel Martinelli, and received a second yellow card and was sent down the tunnel. Chelsea would go on to lose the game 2-1.

Inexperience is Costing Chelsea Champions League Football

Chelsea boast an extremely young squad, fielding six of the top 10 youngest starting XI’s this season.

Whilst this is potentially great for them going forward, to nurture young talent, allow them to gain experience and progress their careers, all teams need experienced players to rein in the younger players.

Take Manchester United. They have Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo and Benjamin Sesko. Exciting young talents with little experience. But they also have Harry Maguire, Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes. Men who have seen it all and know when to take the heat out of a situation. They can get in the ear of the younger players and remind them of expectations.

At Chelsea, not a single player in the starting XI against Arsenal was over the age of 28. Whilst age doesn’t guarantee experience, it’s a good indicator. Chelsea have a World Cup-winning midfielder in Enzo Fernandez in their ranks; however, he himself is hot-headed and can sometimes allow emotions to get the better of him.

For context, when Chelsea had Thiago Silva, one of the most experienced players to grace Stamford Bridge in recent years, they received 11 Premier League red cards, spread across four seasons. This season, they already have seven. Experience isn’t everything, but, as Chelsea are chasing Champions League football, they would benefit from a more disciplined voice in the team.

How to Fix the Issue

It’s unlikely that Chelsea are going to be able to fix their red card problem this season. The business model is to buy young players, nurture and develop them and then, potentially sell them for a profit.

In the summer, they must bring in experience to the team, something Gary Neville suggested during his podcast this week. He suggested an experienced goalkeeper, midfielder and striker would benefit Chelsea next season.

If they bring in a reliable, battle-tested player who demands the respect of the younger players and can calm the team down, they’d benefit from it in the long run. With respect to Liam Rosenior, he doesn’t come across as a disciplinarian.

The manager needs to make the players aware that their recklessness and poor discipline are costing the team, not only on the pitch, but if they don’t make Champions League football, off it too.