Do Chelsea Struggle with Discipline Issues?

Recent Matches Raise Concerns

It may not have influenced the outcome, but Malo Gusto’s late dismissal in a comfortable 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Saturday adds to Chelsea’s disciplinary woes. Under the supervision of manager Enzo Maresca, the team has now witnessed red cards in four consecutive matches as well as five in their last six outings across all competitions.

Noteworthy Performance Despite Setbacks

The match at the City Ground featured impressive goals from Josh Acheampong, Pedro Neto, and Reece James, marking a significant win for Chelsea and coinciding with Forest manager Ange Postecoglou’s final game in charge. However, the alarming trend regarding disciplinary issues has captured attention, raising questions about the team’s growing reputation for indiscipline.

Maresca, who had been sent off previously for passionately celebrating a late goal against Liverpool, has brushed off concerns about the on-field behavior of his team. After Saturday’s match, he acknowledged the need for improvement, stating: “It’s something we can do better, but I’m not overly worried. Some may question my lack of concern, but I prefer to analyze our situation.”

Gusto’s red card, according to Maresca, stemmed from a desire to prevent Forest from scoring, highlighting the players’ eagerness even when leading 3-0, although it could have been avoided.

Disciplinary Record: A Deteriorating Trend

Chelsea’s disciplinary troubles this season began with a reckless challenge by goalkeeper Robert Sanchez during a loss to Manchester United. This was followed by Trevoh Chalobah’s poor tackle against Brighton, which contributed to a disappointing performance. Joao Pedro received a second yellow card for a high boot against Benfica, Maresca was sent off for celebrating a late goal against Liverpool, and Gusto faced a similar fate recently.

Although these latter instances did not affect the match results, they contribute to an increasingly concerning trend regarding Chelsea’s discipline.

Maresca commented on Joao Pedro’s penalty, saying, “Each case must be evaluated on its own merit. A red card that shows malicious intent is different from one that results from a split-second decision during play.”

Key Takeaways and Current Standings

Chelsea’s disciplinary situation this season reveals several troubling indicators:

• The only match without bookings occurred against Liverpool earlier this month.
• Chelsea currently sits at the bottom of the Premier League’s Fair Play standings with 29 points.
• The team has accumulated a total of 17 yellow and three red cards.
• A £25,000 fine was imposed following a match against Manchester United, where five yellow cards and a red were issued.

The broader overview of Chelsea’s disciplinary record paints an even bleaker picture.

A Persistent Issue for Chelsea

Historically, Chelsea has faced ongoing disciplinary challenges, particularly under the current ownership, acquiring a record number of yellow cards and finishing last in the Fair Play rankings since the 2022-23 season. During the 2022-23 season, they netted 86 Fair Play points, ranking sixth in the Premier League, and in the 2023-24 season under former manager Mauricio Pochettino, they were on track to record a Premier League-high of 105 yellow cards.

The troublesome pattern has continued, with Chelsea recording 301 yellow cards in three seasons—more than any other team in the league—and 12 red cards, trailing only Wolverhampton’s 13.

While Maresca’s Chelsea aims to control matches through possession and strategic pressing, an examination of their bookings reveals concerning trends since the 2022-23 season:

• Tactical fouls: 89 (highest in the league)
• Reckless actions: 89 (second-most)
• Dissent and disputes: 67 (highest)
• Time-wasting: 38 (second-most)
• Instances of diving: seven (highest)
• Excessive celebrations: four

Notably, 113 of Chelsea’s 301 yellow cards were issued in the final quarter of matches. In that crucial time frame, they received 15 for dissent, which ranks them fourth, with 10 for disputes, placing them joint-third, and two for simulation, which ties them for the most.

The team’s average of yellow cards per match—2.8 under Pochettino and 2.6 under Maresca—raises the possibility that the issue extends beyond tactical failures and may be tied to the emotional maturity of a young squad.

Chelsea’s average player age sits just above 24, and in their most recent match, Maresca fielded the youngest starting XI in the Premier League this season.

The pressing concern remains: can Maresca effectively tackle this discipline problem? A realistic initial goal may be to minimize bookings for dissent and unprofessional conduct. Improvement may require Chelsea to elevate their overall game, which could naturally reduce occurrences of reckless plays and tactical fouls as the team gains experience over time.