“I have said this multiple times but this is the final straw. Their performance during yesterday’s match was the last straw. He has only been a disappointment” – This is according to Chelsea legend Didier Drogba as he claims that The manager needs to immediately bench the Chelsea player who failed to win any of their challenges, despite having a decent overall performance rating of 4 out of 10
Chelsea’s progress under their newly appointed manager, Enzo Maresca, is steadily becoming more noticeable as the season unfolds. The club’s campaign began on a challenging note with a predictable defeat to defending champions Manchester City. However, Chelsea rebounded impressively in their following fixture, delivering a resounding 6-2 victory against Wolves. This dominant performance highlighted the team’s offensive potential, with standout contributions from players like Noni Madueke and Cole Palmer, who played key roles in dismantling Gary O’Neil’s side.
Despite this promising momentum, Chelsea’s progress suffered a setback when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Crystal Palace. Given Palace’s recent struggles, this result was a disappointment, temporarily halting what had appeared to be a positive trajectory for the team.
Nonetheless, Chelsea regained their footing during a tightly contested encounter against Bournemouth. In a tense match that remained goalless for much of the game, Chelsea managed to secure a late 1-0 victory. Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was instrumental in keeping the team in contention, delivering a standout performance that included a crucial penalty save. This defensive heroics paved the way for Christopher Nkunku’s decisive goal in the final stages of the game.
Interestingly, although Nkunku started in Chelsea’s opening match against Manchester City, he has since been relegated to a bench role for league games, likely due to fierce competition for attacking positions under Maresca’s leadership. However, with some players delivering underwhelming performances, Nkunku may be in line for a return to the starting lineup in upcoming fixtures.
One of the more disappointing performances came from defender Axel Disasi, who struggled in an unfamiliar right-back position during the Bournemouth match. With both Reece James and Malo Gusto unavailable, Maresca was forced to experiment with Disasi, typically a central defender, on the flank. The tactical adjustment proved unsuccessful, and Disasi’s difficulties were evident throughout his time on the pitch. He failed to win any one-on-one battles, was dribbled past twice, and lost possession nine times. Offensively, he made no meaningful contributions, delivering no crosses, completing no dribbles, and providing no key passes. Consequently, he was substituted after just 61 minutes.
The situation was similarly difficult for Pedro Neto on the opposite flank. Neto, who joined Chelsea during the summer transfer window, delivered what Alex Richards of The Mirror described as an “invisible” performance. He completed only 67% of his passes, provided just one key pass, and failed in all of his dribble attempts before being substituted at halftime for Jadon Sancho. Making his debut for Chelsea, Sancho immediately made a significant impact, providing the assist for Nkunku’s winning goal and earning man-of-the-match honors.
Given the stiff competition in Chelsea’s attacking lineup, forwards are under constant pressure to perform. Any dip in form can result in the loss of a starting position. Neto, who initially showed promise with an assist against Wolves, has since struggled to find his rhythm. With both Madueke and Palmer firmly established as Maresca’s preferred right-wing options, Neto faces an uphill battle to reclaim a spot in the starting lineup. Even his prospects on the left side are now threatened by Sancho, whose impressive debut suggests he is poised to become a key player for Chelsea moving forward.
