"I'm not going to pay!" - Enzo Maresca responds to Chelsea possibly receiving £50,000 fine after Nottingham Forest draw
Enzo Maresca insists that he will not pay the potential £50,000 fine Chelsea could receive after six players were booked in their 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest this weekend (Sunday, 6 October).
The Blues hosted Forest at Stamford Bridge as they looked to continue their impressive form under Maresca this season. Prior to the fixture, the west Londoners were just a point behind Arsenal and Manchester City in fourth.
Chris Wood (49') opened the scoring for Forest before Noni Madueke (57') equalized in the second half. James Ward-Prowse was sent off after receiving his second yellow card in the 78th minute.
Despite vehemently attacking 10-man Forest in the final stages of the fixture, Chelsea could not find the match-winner. Moises Caicedo received the first booking of the game in the first period and Cole Palmer was brandished a yellow card in the 75th minute.
The brawl that ensued after Marc Cucurella was sent pummelling into Enzo Maresca near the touchline saw the Spaniard and Levi Colwill get in the referee's books as well.
Pedro Neto and Wesley Fofana were booked in stoppage time too, making it six yellow cards for the west Londoners. Reports now suggest that Chelsea could be fined £50,000 for the six bookings, however, Maresca is unwilling to pay up.
When asked about the fine, he said (via football.london):
"I'm not going to pay!"
The Blues will next face Liverpool after the international break on 20 October.
"I don’t see any problems" - Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca issues response after brawl in Nottingham Forest draw
Enzo Maresca has defended his side after their scuffle with Nottingham Forest's players this weekend. The Italian boss insists that he's happy with the passion and desire Chelsea played with against Forest.
During the second period, Neco Williams clashed with Marc Cucurella and sent the Spaniard crashing into Enzo Marecsa near the touchline. Tensions then boiled over as players and coaches from each side engaged in a brawl on the pitch.
Speaking about the incident after the game, Maresca revealed that he was not hurt or injured, before defending his team's actions. He said:
"First of all, fortunately I was in my area so I was where I was supposed to be. This kind of things can happen. Then in terms of emotion or these kind of things the team is fighting altogether and I don't think some of them lose their heads. I think they all of them were in the game and I was happy with that."
"It’s something we need to improve but overall, I like the team the way they are fighting. I like the way they are becoming a team in these kinds of things. I don’t see any problems about that."