Conclusion: A Tale of Missed Opportunities
I feel for Maresca in this one. He set up the team as best as he could with the players at his disposal. However, the intangible factors and broader issues with squad planning were apparent in this match. One criticism I would direct towards Maresca is that he took far too long to make a tactical alteration.
Nkunku, despite his talent, was ineffective throughout the game, both in and out of possession. I believe a substitution should have been made by the 60th minute, bringing on Jadon Sancho or George for Nkunku, as his performance was not up to par.
Nonetheless, with Newcastle's victory over Nottingham Forest on Saturday night, Chelsea has dropped to 7th place. As each week passes, Champions League qualification becomes increasingly difficult to attain.
Looking ahead, Chelsea faces Leicester and Southampton—two teams heavily likely to be relegated. These matches are must-wins, and securing all three points could provide the team with the momentum they desperately need.