A former Chelsea striker was puzzled by Enzo Maresca’s decision to start a “non-existent” Blues player against Brighton, claiming, “you’re carrying him.”
Chelsea faces a long wait before their next match as they reflect on Friday night’s heavy defeat to Brighton.
The Blues suffered a 3-0 loss at the Amex Stadium, dealing a major setback to their hopes of securing Champions League qualification. With this result, they risk slipping from fourth to sixth place in the Premier League table by the end of the weekend.
It was a frustrating night for Chelsea’s traveling fans, as the team failed to register a single shot on target. Their next fixture isn’t until Saturday, February 22, when they take on Aston Villa in the league.
Cascarino Questions Maresca’s Selection
Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino criticized Enzo Maresca’s decision to start Christopher Nkunku as the central striker, calling him “non-existent” in the attack.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Cascarino said, “Nkunku, I’m sorry, you’re carrying him as a centre-forward. I have no idea why Maresca picked him after his cup performance against Brighton. He was invisible. And what did we see last night? The exact same display. To be fair, he’s not a natural No. 9.”
With Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu sidelined due to injuries, Nkunku has led the attack in Chelsea’s last two matches. However, his performances have been underwhelming—first in the FA Cup exit to Brighton and again in Friday’s league defeat.
Gary Neville also criticized Nkunku and Cole Palmer, stating that both players were “useless” in the attack when Chelsea needed them most.
Who Should Play Up Front?
Nkunku, despite his finishing ability, lacks the physical presence to thrive as a lone striker in the Premier League. With limited options available, Maresca faces a tough decision.
Could Cole Palmer be tested in a central role? Or is it too soon to promote academy prospect Shumaira Mheuka?
Nkunku will likely get more chances up front, but Chelsea may need a creative solution to fix their striker dilemma.
