As the season advances, Chelsea are not performing as expected for a team who were considered one of the top contenders for the league title when the season started. This comes after the Blues had a busy summer transfer window that saw them sign some of the best players on the market.
However, it seems these recent additions are yet to fully adapt to Enzo Maresca’s tactical system and have not been able to unlock their full potential under him so far. It is, however, quite evident that signing Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, and Estevão as their future attackers was among the wisest decisions the club made recently.
Meanwhile, fans have noticed steady improvements in the team’s morale and performance, highlighted by four straight wins across all competitions. However, that positive run came to a sudden halt at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, where a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Sunderland FC raised doubts about Maresca’s tactical approach and left the team sitting ninth in the table.
It has been quite evident that attackers like Pedro and Neto are showcasing their individual brilliance by constantly posing a threat in the opposition’s box and have managed to remain among the players with the most goal involvements for Chelsea in this campaign. But in the matchup against Sunderland, the manager decided to take both the players off which seems to have not gone down too well with former Chelsea player and legend John Obi Mikel.
Obi Mikel criticises manager’s weird decision in Chelsea’s loss to Sunderland
In an recent episode of The Obi One Podcast (via Metro), he has openly criticised this decision made by Maresca and stated:
“I’ve never been critical of Enzo Maresca, I’m a big fan of his. But I just thought that when we were chasing that game, to win that game when it was 1-1, at home… you can’t take your best players out.
‘You can’t substitute your best players. It doesn’t matter that you’re not playing so great.
‘Joao Pedro and Pedro Neto, they were not playing so well. But you leave those players on the pitch and they will find a way to create chances, they will find a way to win that game.
‘I just thought for him to substitute Joao Pedro and Pedro Neto out, after that substitution it was just flat, absolutely flat. There was nothing, we just couldn’t offer anything.”
Chelsea have been lacking solid performances in games against some smaller sides although Sunderland are doing incredibly well this season themselves. Anyway, Chelsea will have shake this defeat and get back on their feet as soon as possible.
So far, the team’s overall balance has been disrupted due to injuries to key players such as Cole Palmer in midfield and Levi Colwill in defence. However, future hopes remain strong as the Blues prepare to face Wolves in the Carabao Cup.
Wolves are struggling and it should be an easy win for the Blues. It will be an incredible opportunity for Maresca’s men to get back to winning ways.
Ankan Bhowmick