Enzo Maresca offered a succinct reaction to Nicolas Jackson's red card during Chelsea's recent Club World Cup match against Flamengo. The incident occurred just four minutes after Jackson entered the game as a substitute, compounding what was already a difficult situation for the Blues.

The match, held in Philadelphia, saw Chelsea initially take the lead with a goal from Pedro Neto in the 13th minute. However, Flamengo responded in the second half with goals from Bruno Henrique and Danilo, turning the game on its head. Maresca then made a couple of substitutions, bringing on Jackson in an attempt to swing the momentum back in Chelsea's favor.

Jackson's time on the pitch was short-lived. He lunged into a challenge on Flamengo's Erick Pulgar, making contact with his shin. The referee, who had a clear view of the incident, immediately issued a red card. The sending off further complicated matters for Chelsea, who were already trailing 2-1. Flamengo subsequently added a third goal, sealing a 3-1 victory.

When questioned about the incident after the match, Maresca offered a blunt assessment. Asked by DAZN about Jackson's challenge and recent disciplinary issues, the Chelsea head coach simply stated: "It was a red card, so nothing to say." This concise response reflects Maresca's apparent unwillingness to delve into the specifics of the incident or offer any excuses for Jackson's actions.

Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella offered a more expansive view, acknowledging that Jackson, while possessing considerable talent, needs to improve his discipline. "He is a young player, he has a lot of quality, he maybe needs to improve this a little bit. We are here to improve, we are not perfect so it is part of the game," Cucurella said.

Maresca attributed the defeat to his team "trying something new" in preparation for the upcoming season. He acknowledged that the red card significantly altered the course of the game. "It completely changed the game. Unfortunately we conceded two goals in a short moment and then the red card and then I think it is complicated to get back into the game," Maresca stated. He added, “We tried – but congratulations to them. They deserved to win. We tried to do something different in the game."

The red card against Flamengo marks another instance of indiscipline for Jackson. He was previously sent off against Newcastle in a Premier League match. This pattern of behavior will undoubtedly be a concern for Maresca and the Chelsea coaching staff, who will be looking to instill greater discipline and composure in the young striker. The suspension resulting from the red card will also present a challenge for Chelsea, who will be without Jackson's services for upcoming matches.