Things Enzo Maresca has to do to change the current situation of Chelsea in the last four games will be his priority in the coming days, before their next Premier League game.
The Chelsea community is getting to know that the ‘not title contender’ comment made by Enzo Maresca isn’t just a gimmick, though they relish it at the time they looked like a genuine contender, it is salty now that they are on a form undeserving of a potential champion.
If you are not going to win the title, this is exactly the kind of form you put up. Nonetheless this isn’t what Maresca anticipated when he made the comment, because some part of him must have been optimistic about their chances, as the team appear as ‘can do no wrong’.
The former Leicester City is getting to know just how vast things can turn at a top team when negative results start trooping in in the wake of a positive one.
Although the Italian gave the fans no false hopes, stating earlier that they were not in the title race, a statement that was welcomed with warm reception given the positive atmosphere created at the club that time.
Two points behind leaders Liverpool, Chelsea sat in second place, and were winning their games while they were also active across all eligible competitions. So if anyone says they aren’t in a title race, who cares as long as the positive run continues.
And when a 2-0 round four loss at Newcastle United dumped them out of the Carabao Cup, their positive form and standing in the league was enough a consolation. However, what now that they are starting to lose that as well ?
Chelsea is winless in each of their last four games after eight-game winning run was ended at the Goodison Park. They have suffered their first-ever Premier League home loss to Fulham and got battered by newly promoted Ipswich Town in that time.
They’ve started the new year with a disappointing draw at Palace, which makes Maresca the first Chelsea handler to go a league season without beating the Eagles in the Premier League era.
Perhaps, Emirates FA Cup meeting with League Two Morecambe provides an exhibition before they face real competition when league action kicks off again in mid-week, when they play host to Bournemouth.
Before the tough fixtures start coming in, we take a look at three things Enzo Maresca can do differently to achieve a turn around from their current shambolic state.
3 Things Enzo Maresca Has to Do
1. Task the wingers
In recent games, the wing has not been productive as it was at the time of Chelsea’s good run. Jadon Sancho, Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto and Joao Felix, all four wingers who have started a game or more in the last four have combined for just one assist and no goal.
When Chelsea sweeping games, Sancho and Neto were assisting and Madueke was scoring but that has dried up, while the number of chances they create have also steeped, leaving Nicolas Jackson with nothing to feast on.
The Senegalese has not received any big chance from his teammates in the last three games hence his drought. Although Cole Palmer has been the creator in chief, the wingers have to up their games.
Enzo Maresca will need to have a talk with his wingmen as their shortcomings have contributed to the let down at the club.
2. Pick a consistent Backline
Since the injury to Wesley Fofana, Chelsea has paired four different options with Levi Colwill in the heart of the defence, with teenager Josh Acheampong the latest after Tosin Adarabioyo, Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile.
As a result of the inconsistency, the club has had just one clean sheet in nine games across all competitions since the injury to Fofana against Aston Villa at the start of December.
With the Frenchman set to miss a major part of the season’s reminder, it is imperative that Maresca pick a consistent backline, so they can grow and adapt to one another, to again restore the fear factor.
3. Unburden Cole Palmer and trust more in collective Effort
Not many managers will keep the English sensation off the pitch with him at their disposal, but sometimes, he does need to be relieved when things haven’t been going well.
Cole Palmer is Chelsea’s best player, but in recent games he has shown signs of tiredness and got lost. Maresca has to be bold enough to make the decision to withdraw him and introduce an alternative.
Chelsea’s next three games will come at home, with the two in the league being against Bournemouth and Wolves, teams they’ve beaten in their meetings earlier in the season. It gives much time to get things up again before the trip to the Etihad later in the month.
Chelsea currently sits fourth in the league, and are starting to acknowledge the ‘not title contender’ quote by Maresca isn’t just a gimmick, and it gets much worse if they fail get their acts together, because Newcastle United and Manchester City are closer to overtaking them than themselves are to those ahead of them.
It is a crucial stage and the West Londoners can not afford further falls. The criticism at this time is his selection, but Maresca may have his know-how criticized by the fans, if the turn around doesn’t come sooner.
Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi
