Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has lifted the lid on an embarrassing admission from striker Liam Delap following his controversial red card during the Blues' dramatic 2-1 victory over Brighton.
The young forward received his marching orders in the second half after a heated altercation with Brighton's Tariq Lamptey, leaving his teammates to battle with ten men for the remainder of the match.
'I Cost Us' - Delap's Candid Confession
Maresca revealed that Delap approached him after the match with a startlingly honest assessment of his dismissal. "Liam came straight to me and said 'Gaffer, I cost us today' - he was completely embarrassed by what happened," the Italian manager disclosed.
The Chelsea boss appeared surprisingly understanding of the situation, suggesting that such moments are part of a young player's development in the high-pressure environment of Premier League football.
A Costly Loss of Temper
The incident occurred during a tense period of the match with Chelsea leading 1-0. Delap's frustration boiled over after a challenge from Lamptey, resulting in a confrontation that saw both players receive yellow cards before the Chelsea man was shown a second yellow for his continued protests.
"These things happen with young players," Maresca explained philosophically. "The important thing is that he recognised his mistake immediately and took full responsibility."
Teammates Rally Despite Setback
Despite playing with ten men for over thirty minutes, Chelsea displayed remarkable resilience to not only withstand Brighton's pressure but to secure all three points with a late winning goal.
The victory provides Chelsea with a crucial boost in their Premier League campaign, though Maresca will undoubtedly be having words with Delap about controlling his temper in future high-stakes encounters.
