Former Chelsea defender Jason Cundy says Liam Rosenior must quickly address the squad’s ‘appalling’ disciplinary record, which became something of a ‘liability’ under Enzo Maresca.
Maresca was often criticised for failing to maintain his players in check, especially within the latter stages of his 18-month reign at Stamford Bridge – and the statistics are there to back it up, too.
This season, the Blues have accrued a complete of 62 red and yellow cards – five greater than bitter rivals Tottenham, the second-worst behaved club within the English top flight.
Per week ago, Marc Cucurella became the most recent Chelsea player to get himself sent off for a foul on Harry Wilson because the Club World Cup winners slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Fulham.
It meant Cucurella was unable to play an element in Rosenior’s first game in charge on the weekend because the west London giants beat Charlton to book their place within the fourth round of the FA Cup.
While the Spain defender is on the market again having served his one-match suspension, Cundy believes indiscipline will proceed to cause problems for Chelsea unless the problem is nipped within the bud.
In any case, their tally of 5 sendings off after only 21 league games is essentially the most accrued by any Premier League side within the last 11 years. Just another red card would bring Chelsea level with the club record they set in 2007/08.
Prefer us to the others? Then tell Google!
As a loyal Metro reader, we wish to ensure that you never miss our stories when trying to find your news. Whether it’s the most recent politics news explained, live football coverage or a showbiz scoop.
Click here and tick Metro.co.uk to make sure you see stories from us first in Google Search.
‘If there’s one thing Liam Rosenior can are available and do and make a small impact, is sort our discipline out,’ Cundy said on talkSPORT.
‘Each week it feels that we’re missing a very important player. Injuries are one thing, injuries sometimes you possibly can’t prevent that. But one thing you possibly can prevent are red cards. It drives me insane.
‘Manchester City away, Liam Delap, very first thing he does is, he bundles into someone and picks up a yellow card.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to an internet
browser that
supports HTML5
video
‘I understand he desires to impress and there’s an aggressive side to his game which he must harness, because I would like to maintain that a part of him.
‘You possibly can’t give yellow cards away for silly things. Kicking balls away, talking to the referee, those things drive me insane.
‘Sort that out and also you’ll make your job lots easier to choose from a squad, you’ve got your best players available.’
While Cundy claims Chelsea’s behavioural issues under Maresca became ‘nothing in need of a disgrace’, he’s confident indiscipline may be an ‘easy thing’ to repair for Rosenior.
‘Our discipline record under Maresca was nothing in need of a disgrace… It was appalling. Nothing ever improved, it was every week,’ he added.
‘Going back to last season, Jackson away at Newcastle, the Club World Cup.
‘We have now grow to be a liability. Sort that out and also you watch the difference within the team selection that Liam Rosenior could have to select from.’
Rosenior hasn’t shied away from Chelsea’s disciplinary problems since taking on the reins from Maresca, encouraging his players to channel their ‘passion’ and ’emotion’ in a more positive way.
‘It’s considered one of a couple of things we will improve on. I know the way we try this,’ the ex-Strasbourg and Hull City boss told reporters ahead of Chelsea’s Carabao Cup clash with Arsenal.
‘I’ve spoken to the players differently about managing setbacks because in life, you get setbacks.
‘They’ve passion and show emotion for the shirt, which is a positive thing. It’s ensuring in key moments we react positively to a setback and stay calm.
‘Those mistakes come from passion, the lads wish to win, so I don’t wish to take that out of them.
‘To win, you possibly can’t be nice on a regular basis, you’ve got to have an edge and I don’t wish to take that away from the lads.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the most recent news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MORE: Chelsea told it was a ‘mistake’ to sign £40m star as Manchester United have last laugh
MORE: Joe Cole makes shock prediction ahead of Chelsea vs Arsenal Carabao Cup semi-final
MORE: Rio Ferdinand names ‘disappointing’ £51m Man Utd star who Michael Carrick must improve