Maresca Chelsea red cards controversy resurfaced on Friday after Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca challenged a reporter over questions about disciplinary problems at his former club during a press conference ahead of City’s Premier League meeting with Brighton.
The Italian raised the question, whether the reporter was talking about his managerial career or after his retirement.
“At the time of my departure and while I was there?” Before asking to clarify, Maresca asked the question about the time frame of the question.
The City manager reacted angrily after the reporter confirmed they were talking about his time at Stamford Bridge, telling him that he didn’t have enough information.
Directly asked if he had been worried by the disciplinary problems at Chelsea, Maresca responded, “I don’t think so. Chelsea’s period of woe extended right through September to November as six of their squad got sent off in six matches during the two-month stretch before Maresca departed the club on New Year’s Day.
The club also had 118 Premier League cards, one more than their nearest rivals Tottenham Hotspur did last season. They had 11 red cards in their repertoire in all competitions. Away from the heated debate, Maresca gave an update on Manchester City’s squad before they face Brighton. However, he stated that his centre-back Antoine Semenyo was the only player who was unable to feature in the match.
The manager also raised his satisfaction level that City is developing on the right path, despite the many changes to the team on and off the pitch since he came back in at the end of June.
