Chelsea
Maresca Insists Chelsea Must Curb Avoidable Bookings After Delap Exchange
Maresca urges Chelsea to stop avoidable bookings and improve discipline among his players this season
Enzo Maresca has acknowledged Chelsea must reduce avoidable bookings after a series of dismissals earlier this season. The manager tempered his previous insistence that the squad had no disciplinary problem, saying players need to learn to avoid meaningless cautions during matches.
Maresca singled out Liam Delap alongside Malo Gusto and João Pedro, who were sent off earlier this season for two yellow cards, and contrasted those incidents with straight red cards shown to Robert Sánchez and Trevoh Chalobah for denying goalscoring opportunities. He spoke directly about the difference between dismissals that could be prevented and those that were harder to avoid.
“If I say that we need to avoid a red card, it’s we need to avoid red card,” Maresca told Friday’s press conference. “I say what I think is correct to say.
“Sometimes we had a red card that was difficult to avoid and sometimes we had some a red card that we could avoid.”
Pressed on whether the problem was club-wide, Maresca admitted there was room for improvement. “I think that some of the red cards that we concede, we can avoid it.
“It’s also something that we need to learn. Something that we have to do better. And for sure, no doubt that in the future we’re going to be better also on that.”
The manager’s post-match message to Delap after the win over Wolves became a central talking point. Maresca said Delap apologised to the squad immediately after the game and that he did not need to have a prolonged conversation with the striker.
“I didn’t need to speak with Liam,” Maresca continued. “I spoke with Liam, but Liam, he knows everything. He’s aware of the situation. He knows that he made a mistake. And full stop. No more than that.
“Probably because I’m not from England so sometimes when I try to translate from Italian to English, sometimes it’s a bit different. Liam, when he’s inside the pitch, is more focused to do his battle against the central defender than the rest. This was what I was telling, what I was trying to say after that game.
“There are three players in this team that I know them better than the rest. Roméo Lavia, Cole Palmer and Liam Delap because I know them from the Under-21s [at Manchester City], four years ago. So I know Liam always and I know that Liam will be a fantastic player for us but there are some things like the rest that he needs to improve.”
Chelsea
Mourinho reveals he was once set for Ferguson’s Manchester United role
Mourinho says he was set to replace Ferguson at United before changing course to return to Chelsea instead.
José Mourinho has disclosed that he was initially due to become Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor at Manchester United in 2013, before changing course and returning to Chelsea.
The revelation adds a fresh layer to one of the most scrutinised managerial transitions in recent Premier League history. David Moyes was ultimately chosen to follow Ferguson at Old Trafford after being personally selected by the departing manager. The appointment earned Moyes the nickname “The Chosen One”, but it proved to be a short-lived reign, ending before he completed a full season as United struggled to maintain the standards of the Ferguson era.
For years, that decision has been viewed as a major misstep by Ferguson and the Manchester United hierarchy. Mourinho’s version of events now presents a different path, one in which he was the intended successor before the deal collapsed.
On the new Netflix series Mourinho, the current Real Madrid manager said: “When I left Real Madrid, I signed to go to Manchester United after Sir Alex.”
Ferguson, who also appears in the docuseries, backed that account and described how close the arrangement came to being finalised.
“I sat him [Mourinho] down and explained the situation,” the 84-year-old claims. “As far as I was concerned, he was accepting. And then, within hours, it changed.”
Mourinho said he then reversed his decision and chose Chelsea, the club where he had already won two Premier League titles earlier in his career. Ferguson recalled the moment the change became clear: “One night, he phoned me and he was crying and he says: ‘Alex, I can’t take it. I’ve given my word to Chelsea and I’m not going to break my word.’
“The reason he gave to me, I could understand, but I was disappointed.”
Mourinho explained the choice in emotional terms: “One thing is love for football, another thing is love for a certain club,” Mourinho reasoned as he explained his decision to choose Chelsea over United..
“I think this is more powerful than love for football and fundamentally, after Real Madrid , I needed to feel that I’m loved.
“For me to lose the chance to be the coach to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson was dramatic, but I don’t regret [it] because it was a decision that I made with my heart.”
The disclosure leaves open the view that a different ending at Madrid might have altered Manchester United’s post-Ferguson years.
Chelsea
Chelsea’s centre-back reshuffle gathers pace after Chalobah exit
Chelsea begin reshaping their defence as Chalobah leaves, with several centre-backs now facing uncertain futures.
Chelsea have taken a first visible step towards Xabi Alonso’s plan to trim the centre-back group to “four or five” after agreeing the sale of Trevoh Chalobah to Como for $41.5 million (£30 million).
The academy graduate, who spent 18 years at the club, has now brought his Chelsea journey to an end and is set for Serie A. In a farewell message on social media, Chalobah wrote: “After 18 years, it’s time to say goodbye to Chelsea ,” Chalobah wrote on social media. “I arrived as a nine-year-old with a dream, and I leave as a man who’s lived that dream in ways I never imagined.
“This journey tested me, lifted me and strengthened me. To every teammate, coach, staff member and supporter, thank you for shaping me. I gave everything I had, and I’m proud of the person this club helped me become.
“To the young players: the path won’t always be smooth. But stay ready, stay positive and keep your faith. God’s timing is always right. Thank you all, truly, with love and gratitude.”
Even with Chalobah gone, Chelsea still have nine centre backs on the books. Lacroix is expected to remain after his recent $70 million (£52 million) move, while Levi Colwill is viewed as untouchable and should play a major part this season after recovering from an ACL injury.
The rest of the group is less settled. Wesley Fofana is likely to stay because of his huge price tag, but Tosin Adarabioyo has been linked with an exit as Chelsea look to streamline the squad. Axel Disasi and Benoît Badiashile are both available for transfer, with Disasi attracting interest in England and Napoli believed to be leading the chase for Badiashile.
There is also uncertainty around Mamadou Sarr and Aarón Anselmino. Sarr was removed from Chelsea’s starting lineup against Johor Darul Ta’zim for reasons that were not explained, while Anselmino went off injured, which may affect his next move.
Josh Acheampong is another case requiring a decision. Chelsea hold very high hopes for the 20-year-old, but last season left supporters wanting more after he managed only 663 Premier League minutes.
Chelsea
Chelsea’s fringe players fall short in five-goal draw with Johor Darul Ta’zim
Chelsea’s youth-heavy side drew 3-3 with JDT, as Delap scored twice but questions remained.
Chelsea ended their Asian preseason tour with a 3-3 draw against Malaysian side Johor Darul Ta’zim on Sunday, a result that left several fringe players still searching for a convincing statement.
The opening period was shaky, but Liam Delap levelled matters before the interval after winning and converting a penalty with a powerful finish. Jamie Gittens then earned another spot-kick on the hour, and Delap dispatched that too. Even so, JDT responded quickly, with a deflected free kick striking Delap and looping beyond Gabriel Slonina.
Chelsea were then nearly beaten by Bérgson’s low drive, before an own goal arrived after Mykhailo Mudryk’s cross to spare them late frustration.
Xabi Alonso selected a very young side, though Tosin Adarabioyo, aged 28, was still used in the centre of a three-man defence. He was the senior figure in the team, but the match did little to support that role. Tosin looked uneasy in a high line, failed to track the JDT move that led to the opening goal, and later lost his composure in an exchange with Kevin Medina, who had also impressed against Chelsea towards the end of 2025.
The armband went to 21-year-old Dário Essugo instead, underlining the youth of the team. Up front, the contest offered Delap and Nicolas Jackson another chance to show where they fit in a squad that now appears to have one spot left alongside João Pedro, with Emegha injured.
Delap’s two penalties were strong, but the broader impression was of an opportunity not fully taken. Jackson was tidier in possession and looked more settled in Alonso’s structure, yet he too failed to meet expectations.
Chelsea’s discipline also looked fragile. Last season’s concerns had prompted moves for Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck, although neither featured here. Without those calmer heads, Chelsea appeared tense and were repeatedly dragged into confrontations, something Alonso would have wanted to avoid.
