Striker Problem
Although Nicolas Jackson started the season well, scoring and performing effectively, his form dipped once December arrived. He reverted to his old habit of missing chance after chance. Despite the availability of Marc Guiu, Enzo Maresca continued to stick with Jackson, even as his wastefulness cost Chelsea valuable points.
The manager also refused to experiment with Christopher Nkunku or João Félix, both of whom had experience playing as a striker. Chelsea fans were desperate for a new striker in the January transfer window. But unfortunately, there were no suitable options available.
Despite having Jackson and Guiu as two natural center-forwards, both suffered injuries in the final hours of the transfer window in the same match. By then, João Félix had already sealed his loan move to AC Milan. As a result, Chelsea currently does not have a recognized striker in the squad. Against Brighton in the FA Cup last Saturday, Nkunku started as the central forward. However, Maresca’s lack of tactical adaptability meant no system was in place to maximize the Frenchman’s abilities.
Academy striker Deivid Washington is away with Brazil's U-20 national team, while another potential academy option, Shumaira Mheuka, remains untested. However, given Maresca’s reluctance to utilize even senior team players, promoting an academy player seems unlikely. Once again, Nkunku is expected to lead the line. If Chelsea continues playing in a way that isolates him, it will further expose Maresca’s tactical shortcomings.
Another option Maresca has considered is deploying Pedro Neto, Noni Madueke, or even Tyrique George as a makeshift striker. Both Neto and Madueke could be reasonable choices, but playing a young and inexperienced George in such a crucial role is far from ideal. The academy graduate struggled to make an impact in the Conference League, so expecting him to thrive in an unfamiliar position at this level could backfire terribly.