‘We learned how to win a game with a red card’ – Enzo Maresca after triumph over Benfica

Enzo Maresca was pleased that his side won a game with a red card, after they beat Benfica 1-0 in the Champions League.

Picking up red cards is becoming something of a habit for Chelsea. They have received three in their last four games, and lost the other two games in which it happened.

Joao Pedro was sent off late on in the Blues’ victory after receiving a second yellow for a high boot.

Maresca said: “At least we learned how to win a game with a red card, that was the first one. Anyway, it was just two, three minutes to play. 

“And now we have Tyrique playing as a nine tonight, we have Guiu on the bench that can play as a nine. Now we have time before the Ajax game, but yeah, as you said, unfortunately another red card that we need to avoid.

“We needed the win and the three points. First half we controlled the game, we scored the goal and we created more chances.

“We had players who were unfortunately not 100% but they were playing because we had seven or eight players out. Sometimes you have to learn to win in an ugly way.”