Enzo Maresca lauds his Chelsea side’s willingness to win ugly – adding if it takes picking up bookings to win, so be it – as Blues and Bournemouth set new Premier League yellow card record

Chelsea kit man Ricky Dowling may not thank Enzo Maresca for telling his team he does not want to see a single one of their white away shirts unsullied, but the visitors did as they were told.

They proceeded to get down and dirty here, Maresca apparently informing his players he was disappointed none of their jerseys required washing after a passive first half. He was appalled by their lack of fight.

Chelsea played with more attitude in the second half, and the 91st-minute caution of Joao Felix meant a Premier League record was set as 14 yellow cards were shown in total. Both teams will be fined £25,000.

Eight of those cards went to the Blues — not including the one issued to Maresca himself — but Chelsea’s manager had sensed this was not a game they could win prettily. 

Mail Sport asked Maresca later about this approach and he said he was pleased, adding if it takes picking up yellow cards to win, so be it. 

Enzo Maresca lauded his side’s willingness to win ugly after a record 14 yellow were shown 

Bournemouth, who lost for the first time this season, ought to have opened the scoring but Evanilson’s penalty was saved by Robert Sanchez.

On another night, Andoni Iraola might have been celebrating a win for his relentless high press, which caused Chelsea untold problems, but the visitors did the dirty work and eventually snatched victory through Christopher Nkunku.