Tony Cascarino Questions Joao Pedro Role as Enzo Maresca Faces Chelsea Selection Headache

 

Tony Cascarino Questions Joao Pedro Role as Enzo Maresca Faces Chelsea Selection Headache

 

The scale of change at Chelsea this season has given head coach Enzo Maresca one of the toughest jobs in the Premier League. With a squad packed full of new arrivals and emerging talents, Maresca has spent the campaign searching for the right balance, the right combinations, and most importantly, the right identity for his team.

 

That process has not been smooth. Chelsea have been one of the most rotated sides in the league, with Maresca making frequent changes in his attempt to unlock the best version of his squad. At times, the results have been encouraging. On other occasions, the constant chopping and changing has left the Blues looking unsure, disjointed, and short on consistency.

 

 

It is this lack of stability that has begun to attract criticism, particularly from former players and pundits who believe Chelsea should now be further along in their development.

 

Tony Cascarino raises doubts over Joao Pedro’s role

Tony Cascarino Questions Joao Pedro Role as Enzo Maresca Faces Chelsea Selection Headache

 

One of the most outspoken critics in recent weeks has been Tony Cascarino, who knows Stamford Bridge well from his playing days in the early 1990s. Speaking on The Game podcast, Cascarino questioned whether Chelsea are using their attacking options in the most effective way, with a specific focus on Joao Pedro.

 

Cascarino made it clear that he believes Chelsea have players capable of scoring goals, but he is not convinced Pedro should be leading the line as a traditional centre-forward.

 

“I do think they have players that can get goals,” Cascarino said. “But I’m not sure Joao Pedro is a centre forward.”

 

It is a view shared by many observers. Pedro’s strengths lie in his movement, technical ability, and link-up play rather than classic penalty-box instincts. He enjoys drifting into deeper areas, combining with midfielders, and pulling defenders out of position. While that can be useful, it can also leave Chelsea without a clear focal point in attack.

 

This has, at times, made Chelsea predictable. When opponents sit deep, the lack of a natural number nine can blunt their edge, forcing them into hopeful crosses or long-range shots rather than clear chances.

 

A wider problem with consistency

Cascarino’s concerns do not stop at Pedro’s positioning. He also highlighted Chelsea’s broader issue with inconsistency, something that has followed the club throughout the season.

 

He explained how his view of Chelsea seems to change from week to week.

 

“Every time I’ve come away watching Chelsea, one week I’ve come away and gone, ‘They’re a decent side. They’re dangerous. They can beat the very best,’” Cascarino said. “And other weeks I can see why they’re getting it wrong.”

 

That unpredictability has been reflected in Chelsea’s results. There have been performances that suggest Maresca’s ideas are taking shape, with quick passing, aggressive pressing, and fluid movement in attack. Yet those displays are often followed by flat, hesitant outings where Chelsea struggle to control games.

 

Cascarino also pointed to defensive leadership as a major concern, particularly at centre-back. He believes Chelsea lack a commanding presence who can organise the back line and lead under pressure. Without that authority, small mistakes tend to snowball, especially when confidence dips.

 

Injuries leave Maresca with few options

Tony Cascarino Questions Joao Pedro Role as Enzo Maresca Faces Chelsea Selection Headache

 

While criticism of Maresca’s use of Pedro may be fair, the reality is that the Italian coach’s options have been limited. Injuries have played a key role in shaping Chelsea’s attacking setup, most notably the ongoing fitness issues of Liam Delap.

 

Delap’s latest injury setback has once again removed a more natural striker from contention, leaving Pedro as the most reliable option to start games through the middle. With January reinforcements unlikely and no recall planned for Emanuel Emegha, Maresca appears committed to working with what he has.

 

That leaves Pedro sharing the workload with young forward Marc Guiu, who is still learning the demands of top-level football. It is a heavy responsibility for both players, especially in a team expected to compete at the top end of the table.

 

Pedro has shown flashes of quality this season, contributing goals and assists while working tirelessly off the ball. However, being asked to operate as a lone striker every week may not bring out the best in his game.

 

A delicate balancing act for Chelsea

Maresca now finds himself walking a fine line. He must continue developing his tactical ideas while managing a squad that is still adapting to his methods. At the same time, results matter, and patience at a club like Chelsea is always limited.

 

Cascarino is likely right that Pedro would thrive more in a deeper, supporting role, where he can link play and arrive late in dangerous areas. But with injuries mounting and no immediate reinforcements planned, Chelsea may have little choice but to persist with their current setup.

 

The hope for Chelsea supporters is that consistency will come with time. The talent is clearly there. Whether Maresca can find the right structure to unlock it on a regular basis remains one of the biggest questions of the season.