Chelsea’s inconsistent season took another turn for the worse this week, with manager Enzo Maresca admitting the current squad is far from the title-winning teams of the past.
A meek FA Cup exit at the hands of Brighton and a growing injury list have compounded the Blues’ struggles, leaving Maresca searching for solutions.
Following their 2-1 defeat to Brighton on Saturday, Maresca acknowledged fan frustrations, stating, “They [the fans] are 100 per cent fair and correct. I grew up watching Chelsea winning games and competitions, but this Chelsea is not the same as that one.”
He emphasized that the team isn’t currently equipped to compete on multiple fronts, suggesting the FA Cup elimination allows them to focus on the league and the Conference League.
This comment, however, has raised concerns among some fans about a perceived lack of ambition.
Adding to Chelsea’s woes, striker Nicolas Jackson has been ruled out until April with a hamstring injury. This absence leaves a significant hole in the attack, as Jackson has scored nine Premier League goals this season.
Maresca acknowledged Jackson’s importance, saying, “We’re going to try to find different solutions. For sure, when you don’t have a proper nine that can be a threat, you have to change not only the nine but also a bit the way you want to play.”
While Christopher Nkunku is a potential option, Maresca clarified that he isn’t a natural striker, stating, “Christo is not a nine, he is an attacking midfielder, but we use him as a nine to find a solution.”
Nkunku’s performance against Brighton, where he had only 34 touches and no shots on goal, highlighted the challenge of filling Jackson’s shoes.
Maresca now faces the difficult task of revitalizing his team ahead of their return to the Amex Stadium to face Brighton again this week.
He continues to call for patience, stating, “This club for the next five, 10 years, can compete for titles, no doubt. In this moment, we are in a process to arrive in that position. But we are not ready after six months together. There are clubs that are together three, four, five years and they still struggle. I try to convince the players every day that this club belongs to something different than where we are now.”
A win against Brighton would provide a much-needed boost to Chelsea’s Champions League hopes and offer a sign of progress, but more importantly, it needs to be accompanied by a marked improvement in performance.
