“Forget about Madueke and Palmer. He was really the one holding the whole game together. If not for him Madueke would not have been able to level the game ” – This is according to Chelsea legend John Mikel Obi as he claims that Chelsea’s £100k-per-week player deserves just as much recognition if not more.

Chelsea’s winning streak ended on Sunday as they drew 1-1 with Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge.

Although the Blues dominated possession with 67% and produced 2.27 expected goals (xG) compared to Forest’s 0.85, they could only score once to secure a win.

Chris Wood put Forest ahead in the 49th minute, but Noni Madueke equalized in the 57th with a low curled shot into the bottom left corner.

Despite Forest’s James Ward-Prowse receiving a red card in the 78th minute, Chelsea couldn’t take advantage of having an extra player.

Enzo Maresca’s team enters the international break sitting fourth in the Premier League and will play Liverpool at Anfield in their next match on October 20.

In the game against Forest, Chelsea’s standout player, Cole Palmer, recorded another goal contribution by assisting Madueke’s goal.

Despite making six key passes and providing an assist, he didn’t seem to perform at his best, highlighting the high expectations surrounding the young talent.

Madueke began the season in excellent form and increased his goal count with a superb finish to level the score. The 22-year-old also delivered three key passes, won seven of his 13 ground duels, made three tackles, and worked hard on both offense and defense.

In addition to Chelsea’s two standout players this season, another individual delivered a top-notch performance against Forest.

### Jadon Sancho’s Performance Against Forest

Since joining Chelsea on an initial loan deal with an obligation to buy from Manchester United, Sancho has made four appearances and already provided three assists. Although he didn’t contribute any goals in this match, his performance was commendable.

The 24-year-old winger delivered three key passes, won 4 out of 6 ground duels, completed all three of his dribbles (100%), and made one tackle during the game.

#### Sancho vs. Palmer & Madueke

| Stat | Sancho | Palmer | Madueke |
|————————|——–|——–|———|
| Minutes | 89 | 90 | 89 |
| Goals | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Assists | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Touches | 47 | 81 | 58 |
| Key Passes | 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Shots | 0 | 6 | 7 |
| Dribbles Completed | 3/3 | 1/1 | 3/5 |
| Ground Duels Won | 4/6 | 5/6 | 7/13 |

*Stats from Sofascore*

Sancho’s performance, earning him a £100k-per-week salary, was impressive, though it might go unnoticed due to the accolades received by Madueke and Palmer.

GOAL rated Sancho a 6/10, labeling him a “consistent outlet” for Chelsea but noted that he needs to work on his fitness to improve further.

Maresca prefers his wingers to take on their fullbacks in one-on-one situations, and Sancho’s perfect dribble success rate demonstrated that he effectively threatened down the left side, creating opportunities for his teammates, as indicated by his three key passes.

The 24-year-old appears to have solidified his place in the starting lineup, having started three consecutive Premier League matches. He has formed an attacking quartet with Palmer, Madueke, and Nicolas Jackson, which has shown promising results in recent weeks.