Chelsea Manager’s Late-Game Celebration Leads to Suspension
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has broken his silence following his dramatic dismissal during Saturday’s thrilling victory over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.
The incident occurred in the 95th minute when Maresca left his designated technical area to join his players in celebrating Estevao’s match-winning goal near the corner flag. The referee issued him a second yellow card, resulting in his ejection from the match.
As a consequence of the dismissal, Maresca will be absent from the touchline when Chelsea faces Nottingham Forest in their upcoming Premier League fixture on October 18. The suspension also prevented him from fulfilling his standard post-match media responsibilities, as per Premier League protocols.
Assistant head coach Willy Caballero stepped in to handle the post-match communications, including television interviews and the press conference, where he conveyed Maresca’s messages of appreciation to the team.
Breaking his silence on Monday through social media, Maresca expressed both joy and regret: “Winning at the last moment was a beautiful joy for all of us. It was a shame not to be present at the final whistle to celebrate with our wonderful fans. Now recovery focus and energy in what we can do better.”
The dramatic 2-1 victory over Liverpool has positioned Chelsea favorably in the Premier League standings. With 11 points from their opening seven matches, the Blues currently occupy seventh place, trailing Crystal Palace by just one point and sitting five points behind league leaders Arsenal as the teams enter the international break.
The result represents a significant boost for Chelsea’s ambitions this season, though Maresca’s touchline absence for the Forest match will present an additional challenge for the London club.
