Chelsea 4–3 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup fourth round had it all: drama, goals, and a bit of chaos. Enzo Maresca’s side advanced to the next stage but suffered a fresh blow as left-back Marc Cucurella received a suspension that rules him out of the quarter-final tie.
The Spaniard picked up a yellow card in the 90th minute against Wolves, his second of the competition which earned him a one-match ban in the Carabao Cup. Several other individuals on Chelsea’s register are pushing for disciplinary tightrope, making the southern club’s domestic and cup ambitions appear that little more difficult.
Cucurella’s suspension confirmed after Wolves thriller
Currently, Cucurella will now miss the quarter-final with Cardiff City in December. An EFL regulation states that entailing two yellows in the tournament triggers a one-game ban. However, unlike red card confrontations, yellow carrying suspensions do not extend to multiple tournaments. Therefore, the full-back will be available for more duty in the Premier League.
It will be a massive relief for Enzo Maresca as Chelsea have a high-stakes league match when they face Tottenham Hotspur this Saturday. The Spaniard has played a role in all nine Premiere League matches of the Blues so far and started eight of them, and he has adapted well to the Maresca’s system. The newcomer’s energy, offensive runs, and defensive contributions are appearing excellent down the left wing.
If Cucurella is out, the 18-year-old Jorrel Hato is likely to step up at left-back, who made his first start in the new year against Wolves and he was particularly impressive due to his discipline and positional awareness during the high-scoring affair. Since Maresca has shown to trust young players, the defender’s second appearance in as many fixtures shows the club’s plan to continue using its products first-team players.
Elsewhere, suspension to Liam Delap against Wolves only adds to Chelsea’s disciplinary worries. The forward’s suspension comes against Saturday’s Premier League match with Tottenham. It is not only the threat to the attacking force for Chelsea, of course, with the suspension of Cucurella set to affect squad rotation in the Carabao Cup – a tournament the Blues have tended to make clear they value as an early opportunity to win silverware.
Chelsea look to bounce back in league at Sunderland
After last weekend’s disappointing 2–1 loss to Sunderland, Chelsea are now placed ninth in the Premier League table. The Blues are eight points behind leaders Arsenal and three points from third-placed Tottenham. Due to the mentioned above, the London derby may have significant consequences for Chelsea not only in terms of scoring but, most importantly, for the fight for a spot in the top-four rankings.
A win would put Chelsea back in the hunt and give them some much-needed momentum heading into a gruelling December schedule, while a defeat could see them sucked into mid-table mediocrity. Maresca’s side has demonstrated an excellent spectacle at times this season, but they have been held back by inconsistency and defensive frailties.
Author’s View
Suspension for Marc Cucurella may not have derailed Chelsea’s cup campaign, yet it underlined the fine margins between progress and setbacks. Although it seems a blessing that he will be available for most league games, it is hard to miss him for three important Carabao Cup matches during that crucial stage Maresca’s decision to trust Hato at this late stage suggests confidence in both the squad’s depth and the team’s youth-oriented relationship.
The next few weeks will be as much about discipline as talent for Chelsea. Their attacking quality cannot be denied, but it is the level of focus and composure shown that will decide if this season ends in more silverware or another “what if” season.
