Manager blames passion for Chelsea’s discipline issues

Manager blames passion for Chelsea’s discipline issues

Chelsea’s game against Wolves last week saw them rack up another flurry of yellow cards (an amazing 5 by the end), putting them top of the league for cautions.

Mauricio Pochettino was asked about this in his press conference ahead of the game against Crystal Palace today – was this due to a lack of discipline in his team? He flatly denied that.

Pochettino’s explanation was that the cards are being caused by an excess of passion and frustration from his players, basically.

“We are Chelsea,” as he put it. He also noted it was partly down to some inexperience in his group.

It would be a nice explanation, and would get his players off the hook, if it didn’t beg the question of why those same players then look so disinterested the rest of the time, when it comes to actually winning games.

Are they really only showing commitment when it comes to getting in the book? Is Cole Palmer really getting more bookings because it’s his first season in the league? We’re not so sure.