Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea aspect shall be trying to get again to profitable methods within the Premier League, as they face Aston Villa at Villa Park, coming off the again of back-to-back defeats to Brighton within the final two weeks, not solely being knocked out of the FA Cup, but additionally dropping out of the highest 4 within the league.
The Blues smashed Villa 3-0 within the reverse fixture this marketing campaign at Stamford Bridge, with targets from Nicolas Jackson, Enzo Fernández and Cole Palmer. Chelsea dominated the fixture, holding 64% possession, taking 17 pictures, creating two “huge possibilities” and producing 1.69 xG.
One challenge Maresca should remedy heading into this sport is the striker drawback at Chelsea proper now, with Jackson and Marc Guiu each out injured, which means Christopher Nkunku has been the one filling within the hole up prime in latest weeks.
Christopher Nkunku’s centre-forward challenge
Nkunku has made 32 appearances this season for Chelsea, being utilized in numerous totally different roles by Maresca, scoring 13 targets in all competitions, offering 4 assists and totalling 1,417 minutes performed.
While his general objective tally is sweet, it is the performance of the crew that suffers with Nkunku within the aspect, as he is not taking part in in his pure attacking midfield place.
Subsequently, Chelsea will not be benefiting from the identical set of expertise Jackson brings to the aspect, making intelligent runs in behind, driving play forwards and opening up bigger areas for Cole Palmer to function inside. This has not solely seen a decline in targets from the striker, but additionally from Palmer himself in latest weeks.
|
Chelsea Premier League goalscorers 2024/25 |
|
|---|---|
|
Participant |
Targets |
|
Cole Palmer |
14 |
|
Nicolas Jackson |
9 |
|
Noni Madueke |
7 |
|
Enzo Fernández |
3 |
|
Jadon Sancho |
2 |
|
Marc Cucurella |
2 |
|
Pedro Neto |
2 |
|
Christopher Nkunku |
2 |
|
Moises Caicedo |
1 |
|
Reece James |
1 |
With Jackson and Noni Madueke each out injured now (Chelsea’s second and third prime scorers within the league this season) and Palmer now going 5 consecutive video games with out a objective contribution, Maresca shall be tasked with discovering a strategy to produce targets in opposition to Aston Villa.
Chelsea’s potential new striker answer
A unique strategy the Italian coach may take is taking part in Pedro Neto via the center, offering the same skill to make runs in behind as Jackson did, due to this fact stretching the pitch and affording that further little bit of house within the pockets for Palmer.
Not solely may this revitalise Palmer, however it may additionally carry a brand new dynamic to the entrance line, permitting the Blues to penetrate in behind once more, one thing they did not do in opposition to Brighton regardless of the house afforded to them.
Neto has made 29 appearances to this point this season, scoring 4 targets, offering 5 assists and totalling 1,617 minutes in all competitions.
Wolves coach, Shaun Derry, described Neto as a “exceptional” younger man who may be very critical about soccer, having nice enthusiasm for the sport which could be infectious all through a crew.
It is this kind of power Chelsea may use proper now, and having Neto main the cost in a barely unorthodox position may have a trickle-down impact with reference to power and need.
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