The Blues have seen seven players sent off in the Premier League.
Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior revealed he will adjust his team selection with a view to improving his team’s dismal disciplinary record after Pedro Neto was sent off in their 2-1 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday.
Neto will miss Wednesday’s trip to Aston Villa after he was shown a second yellow card for hacking down Gabriel Martinelli, moments after receiving his first caution for a show of dissent as Chelsea protested Arsenal’s second goal.
It marked Chelsea’s seventh red card in the Premier League and ninth in all competitions. That number rises to 10 when including former boss Enzo Maresca’s dismissal against Liverpool.
While confirming Neto had apologised to his team-mates, Rosenior stressed that the ill-discipline that has been a constant feature of Chelsea’s campaign can no longer be tolerated.
Rosenior: Chelsea discipline must improve
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Rosenior said of his side’s disciplinary record: “It needs to improve promptly.
“My job is to create a culture of accountability, whereby if you make a mistake, you hold your hands up and make sure it doesn’t happen again. But you have to hold your hands up to the original mistake, though.
“Pedro has apologised to the group. We will miss him for the next game. I need to see an improvement in the behaviour now.
“It’s not just him though, we’ve had bookings for needless dissent and fouls. If we’re to improve and get to where we want to be, we have to make a conscious step now to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
“The first thing is picking the players who are actually showing that improvement. I cannot afford to go through a season picking up a red card every one or two games, it just isn’t possible.
“So I need to see improvement and I need to adjust my team selection based on those players that are showing those capabilities.”
Chelsea boss calls for set-piece review
While Rosenior was once again irritated by his team’s lack of discipline, Chelsea were left aggrieved by the goal from Jurrien Timber that restored Arsenal’s lead.
Neto and his team-mates were furious as no foul was given against Arsenal, with the Blues’ claims that goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was impeded as they attempted to defend a set-piece falling on deaf ears.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot said on Monday that the Premier League was “not a joy” to watch because of the “new reality” of set-piece dominance.
“You have to accept that it’s mainly here in the Premier League,” said Slot, referencing his native Netherlands, where he spent his entire playing career and won the Eredivisie and Dutch Cup with Feyenoord.
“If I watch other leagues, I don’t think there’s so much emphasis on set pieces. That’s sometimes funny for me to do if I watch an Eredivisie game – which I still do – [in which] goals are disallowed because fouls on goalkeepers are given.”
Asked to weigh in on Slot’s remarks, Rosenior said: “I think that is the beauty of football, you can do it in so many different ways. There’s no right or wrong way to play football for me. I’m sure when we scored from a corner yesterday, our fans didn’t care what the goal looked like. I’m sure Arsenal’s fans didn’t care what their goals looked like either. The game is about winning.
“What I would say about corners is that there needs to be a review at the end of the season in terms of the way teams are affecting the goalkeepers and are holding on during defensive set plays. I think that’s something that gives an unfair advantage to certain teams.”
Chelsea close on unwanted record
In terms of their record in all competitions, Chelsea have already tied the record for the most red cards by a Premier League club in a single season.
Looking solely at the Premier League, they are now just two behind the record for one campaign.
Most red cards in a single Premier League season:
- Sunderland (2009-10): 9
- Queens Park Rangers (2011-12): 9
- Leicester City (1994-95): 8
- Blackburn Rovers (1998-99): 8
- West Ham United (1999-00): 8
- Newcastle United (2008-09): 8
- Sunderland (2013-14): 8
