Chelsea returns to Premier League action on Thursday as they host Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge. With three teams within touching distance, by the time their match kicks off, the home side could find themselves seventh.
Several players have been disappointing for the Blues in recent months. Of course, there is Robert Sánchez, no matter how much Enzo Maresca wants to defend him, he remains a liability every time he steps on the pitch. However, Chelsea have a few others who have let the team down and need to step up their game as they hope to finish in a Champions League place.
1. Cole Palmer
The first and most obvious choice is the reigning Club Player of the Year. After starting the season in fine form, he is still their top scorer in the league, but that says a lot about the rest of the squad rather than just him.
Palmer has not contributed a goal in his last 10 matches in all competitions for Chelsea. Recent injury troubles have not helped him either. A fair share of the blame can also be placed on Enzo Maresca’s lackluster tactics.
However, as last season showed, regardless of tactics or form, Palmer is capable of producing moments of magic out of nowhere. He remains the one player in the team who can create or score a goal out of nothing. As Chelsea head into the final stretch of the season, fans will be looking at Palmer once again.