October 28th 2024.
Enzo Maresca, the manager of Chelsea, was caught off guard by the massive fines that the Football Association had imposed on his team for their lack of discipline on the field. The whopping £115,000 fine was a result of their recent string of yellow card offences.
Despite the hefty sum, Maresca couldn't help but see the humorous side of things. As he won't be the one paying the fine, he jokingly declared that it was "not my problem!" However, the Blues' lack of discipline has been a growing concern. Under their previous manager, Mauricio Pochettino, they had accumulated a record-breaking 105 yellow cards last season in the Premier League. And this season, under Maresca, they have already received 36 yellow cards in just nine games, seven more than the next team on the list.
According to FA rules, a team can be fined £25,000 if they receive six or more yellow cards in a single match. And unfortunately, Chelsea has managed to pull off this feat three times already this season, making them the first team to do so. The first incident occurred during their 1-0 win at Bournemouth, followed by the 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest, and most recently, during their 2-1 victory over Newcastle.
The Blues' troubles don't end there. In addition to the £75,000 fine for the three matches, they were also slapped with a £40,000 penalty for their involvement in the mass brawl that erupted during the Forest draw earlier in October. To make matters worse, Nottingham Forest was also fined a staggering £125,000 for failing to control their players.
After being informed of the potential fines, Maresca couldn't help but give a witty response, brushing off the issue and insisting that his team did not have a discipline problem. "I'm not going to pay, it's not my problem!" he declared during his post-match press conference. He also praised his team's fighting spirit and their ability to stay focused and composed during intense moments.
Despite their disciplinary issues, Maresca remains optimistic about his team's progress. He believes that they are growing and becoming a cohesive unit on and off the field. As they prepare to face Newcastle again, this time in the Carabao Cup, Chelsea will be hoping for a less chaotic game. And Maresca will surely be keeping a close eye on his team's behavior to avoid any more costly fines. Stay updated with all the latest Chelsea news, exclusives, and analysis by signing up for our newsletter. Your privacy is important to us, and we are protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
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