Key Highlights
- Liam Delap was sent off in his return from a hamstring injury against Wolves.
- Chelsea suffered their fifth red card of the season when Delap was shown two yellow cards within seven minutes.
- Enzo Maresca, Chelsea’s head coach, criticized both players and himself for the disciplinary issues.
- The match ended in a dramatic 4-3 victory for Chelsea, despite Delap’s absence from most of it due to his red card.
Chelsea’s Dramatic Carabao Cup Victory Over Wolves
Chelsea reached the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with a thrilling 4-3 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wolves) on October 30, 2025. The match was marked by controversy and drama, as Chelsea’s head coach Enzo Maresca faced criticism for his team’s disciplinary issues.
Liam Delap’s Red Card and Return
After making a long-awaited return from a hamstring injury in the second half of the Carabao Cup fourth-round tie at Molineux, striker Liam Delap was sent off within 25 minutes. He received his first yellow card in the 79th minute for pushing over Yerson Mosquera in an off-the-ball incident, and just seven minutes later, he was shown a second yellow card for elbowing Emmanuel Agbadou.
“Very stupid red card that was completely unnecessary,” Maresca said, expressing his frustration. “Absolutely deserved. It was a stupid foul. We can avoid that.”
Chelsea’s Disciplinary Record and Coach’s Frustration
The incident marked Chelsea’s fifth red card of the season, with previous incidents involving Robert Sanchez, Trevoh Chalobah, Joao Pedro, Malo Gusto, and Maresca himself. The coach acknowledged that this red card was particularly embarrassing given its timing.
“After the yellow card, I told him four or five times, keep calm,” Maresca said. “But Liam is a player inside the pitch, playing the game for himself and he struggles to listen to things around him.”
Maresca added, “It is embarrassing when it is a red card like today. It is embarrassing two cards in seven minutes, both we can avoid.” The coach also admitted that he had failed to communicate effectively with Delap during the match.
Match Highlights and Result
The match began with Wolves leading 2-1 before Chelsea’s Andrey Santos, Tyrique George, and Estevao scored goals in the first half. Jamie Gittens’ superb volley in the 89th minute sealed a dramatic victory for Chelsea, despite David Moller Wolfe scoring two late goals for Wolves.
Wolves’ Tolu Arokodare also netted a goal before Delap’s red card. The match ended with Chelsea celebrating their progress to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals but facing criticism over their poor discipline and communication issues on the pitch.
