Man City's Maresca rejects criticism of discipline in his time at Chelsea

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca deflected questions about the number of red cards players received during his tenure at Chelsea after a contentious interaction with a reporter on Friday. The Italian insisted he did not consider the issue a concern, questioning whether the reporter was referring to the timeframe before or after his departure from Chelsea.

Maresca, who left Chelsea on New Year's Day, stated that he lacked information when asked about his time with the club. He clarified that six Chelsea players received red cards in just over two months from September to November, before his exit. Chelsea ended the season with 118 cards, six more than Tottenham Hotspur, the nearest rivals, and 11 red cards in all competitions.

Maresca addressed team news, noting that Antoine Semenyo was the only City player unavailable for the upcoming Premier League match against Brighton & Hove Albion. He expressed satisfaction with the team's progress since his arrival in June, stating that City were moving in the right direction despite significant changes both on and off the pitch.

The Italian emphasized that City were competing in all competitions, having secured 21 points from eight matches, leading the table above Arsenal on goal difference by five points.