Overview

• Joao Pedro was sent off in the 96th minute of the win over Benfica and will serve a one‑match Champions League ban against Ajax on October 22.
• Chelsea have collected 25 yellow cards and three reds in nine games this season, including dismissals in three of their last four matches.
• Trevoh Chalobah’s suspension compounds defensive injuries for Saturday’s visit of Liverpool, leaving limited centre‑back options.
• Enzo Maresca has publicly played down a systemic problem, arguing several dismissals stemmed from defensive actions or marginal incidents that disrupted his setup.
• Senior voices urged a reset in behavior, with Marc Cucurella warning the team will suffer without better control and Matt Le Tissier criticizing Pedro’s decision as foolish while expecting a firmer internal message, as outside analyses highlight a worsening red‑card rate under Maresca.