How Chelsea can use key star to stretch the play and allow Cole Palmer to thrive in the pocket, writes MARTIN KEOWN
- So often, Chelsea have looked to Cole Palmer to provide their creative spark
- But the team has been disrupted by injuries and Enzo Maresca needs a Plan B
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It was only three months ago that Chelsea were playing — and winning — in a manner that showed how good the club can be.
That was until manager Enzo Maresca declared that they were not Premier League contenders. This was out of sorts with a club that had won 21 trophies in the last 19 years.
Since that press conference after the victory over Brentford in December, Chelsea have been mediocre, with just two wins from nine league games, proving that good leadership and messaging to the media and players has to go hand-in-hand.
So often since his arrival, Cole Palmer has been Chelsea’s saviour and has thrived in his link-up play behind Nicolas Jackson. Jackson was deemed not good enough for Chelsea last season, but his lung-bursting runs stretched defences and left valuable space in which Palmer can thrive.
The most recent defeat by Brighton was the first league game this season that Palmer has failed to create a chance. He has not scored or assisted in five matches. To find a solution to Jackson’s injury, Maresca has turned to Christopher Nkunku, who has spent more time playing behind Palmer than in front of him.
Chelsea need Nkunku to stretch the play for Palmer to help them to be more creative. With Noni Madueke also injured, Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho need to start contributing goals and assists. For too long, Maresca has relied too heavily on the Jackson-Palmer axis.
Chelsea need to find a new plan if they are to harness the creative brilliance of Cole Palmer
Christopher Nkunku must play in front of Palmer and provide him with space to operate in
Enzo Maresca had a brilliant start to life at Chelsea but his team have gone backwards recently
Due to the transfer policy of the new owners, there is hardly a player left from when Thomas Tuchel led Chelsea to Champions League and Club World Cup glory. They have spent £1.5billion — and only a fraction on strikers — so there are limited options in central positions.
This is a club that has spent so much money on research and analysis, yet they still left Jackson on the pitch against West Ham, who complained of a hamstring injury after 26 minutes but was not taken off until 10 minutes into the second half. Jackson has made over 100 more sprints in the Premier League this season than any other Chelsea player. It was an accident waiting to happen.
I applaud the way that Maresca turned the team around but now results and performances seem to be falling away.
It’s not just their attack that’s an issue. The defence is losing its shape and being pulled out position far too often. They look vulnerable whenever the ball goes out wide.
The trip to Aston Villa on Saturday evening is a massive game for both teams. Unai Emery was gutted Villa didn’t beat Liverpool in midweek which shows you the belief he has in the quality of the new version of his squad.
He has played some excellent poker in the transfer market, selling Moussa Diaby and Douglas Luiz for more than £100m, but replacing them with a host of new players. The way that January signing Marco Asensio moved the ball under pressure against Liverpool was a top class.
Both these clubs find themselves in a cluster of sides on the hunt for European football. It’s do or die now for Chelsea. They see themselves as are a Champions League club but if they don’t pick up their performances soon, it will be a third straight campaign without it.
That would have been unthinkable under Roman Abramovich.
