Sunday’s 1-1 draw at home to Arsenal marked 11 Premier League games into Enzo Maresca’s reign as Chelsea boss. Sprinkle in a few Europa Conference League games and 2 Carabao Cup matches, and we’ve had enough time to have a good look at Maresca’s bloated squad and see who will have to improve if Chelsea are serious about reclaiming a spot in the top 4.
Of course there have been amazing standouts. Cole Palmer is lighting the way for Chelsea so far, with Malo Gusto, Christopher Nkunku, and Nicolas Jackson noted as some very high-standard players in different competitions this season, but who are the 5 I’ve chosen who will have to show more to maintain their spot in this young and exciting team?
The 5 Chelsea Strugglers
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Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi.
I’m starting with a 2 for 1 special; don’t say I don’t spoil you. The French centerback duo arrived from Monaco in 2023 for a combined fee of €83 million and have yet to live up to any of the expectations one should expect with that price tag.
Last season with Chelsea plagued with injuries, neither player stepped up… but to be fair, nobody did last season. The slate was wiped clean for the squad this season, but the two lads have not been up to the level required so far. Miles away from the starting XI partnership of Fofana and Colwill, with Tosin seen as the 3rd choice centre back, the French duo might only get runouts in the Conference League should things not improve. Looking back during the summer, had Chalobah not been exiled from the squad, it really could’ve been the end for Disasi and Badiashile.
2. Robert Sánchez.
Exiled to the bench last season due to the great form of Djorde Petrovic, the Spaniard might have thought his time was up as a starting goalkeeper for Chelsea. But with Maresca’s appointment and love for a ball-playing goalkeeper, Sanchez was given another chance to reclaim the No. 1 position. And so far he’s been subpar at best—a great game against Bournemouth in which he saved a penalty after giving it away—but since it hasn’t been great for the Spaniard.
A silly penalty given away against Manchester United, handing them a one goal lead, and really poor performances against Brighton and Liverpool have had Chelsea fans quetioning why Petrovic was the one sent on loan. We haven’t really seen enough of ‘cup goalkeeper’ Filip Jorgensen to say he should be starting over Sanchez, but it can’t go on like this much longer.
Is Petr Cech still available?
3. Enzo Fernández.
Enzo has fallen out of favour at the minute for Chelsea, with his last two starts coming in cup competitions against Newcastle and Panathinaikos, which isn’t ideal for the €100 million man. Seeing the incredible form of Caicedo being touted as one of the best midfielders in the league this season and the return of injury-ridden Romeo Lavia has succumb Enzo to the bench in big games against Liverpool, Newcastle, and Manchester United. The Argentinian has a chance to turn things around, and I’m still hopeful for him. But time moves quickly; things need to turn around for him very quickly.
Noni Madueke is a very, very talented footballer, incredibly technical, pacy, strong, and has all the qualities to be a top winger for Chelsea for many years to come. But with pressure from Pedro Neto and the arrival of Estevao next season, Madueke has to improve to reach the levels Chelsea need to kick on and compete with some of the top teams in the league. Decision-making is one of Madueke’s biggest faults; he shoots when he should’ve passed; he passes when he should’ve shot.
He doesn’t have to improve as much as others on this list, and he should be given time and protected because he has outstanding qualities to be one of the best in the league in a few years time but has a tendency to go missing at times. Obviously that hat-trick against Wolves was incredible from him, and a well taken goal against Forest will paper over the cracks. Noni just has to sharpen up a little bit to really take his game to the next level. Perhaps he should slate every place he visits on away days.
5. Mykhaylo Mudryk.
Many painted this season as Mudryk’s last chance in Blue, but so far it hasn’t turned out the way many wanted it to go for the Ukrainian. Despite Enzo Maresca saying to give him time and backing the winger, many fans haven’t seen a change from last season. Yes, he had an exceptional game against Panathiaikos, bagging a goal and assist, but things haven’t gone brilliantly against the opposition of Chelsea’s level.
One start in the league this season and a handful of sub-appearances is all the look-in he’s had so far. Here’s hoping Maresca can manage Mudryk to the winger we all thought he could become, but this season is a big one for the young Ukrainian, with more people knocking on the door of the Chelsea first team.
Who else do you think needs to up their level to be able to survive at Stamford Bridge this season? Hopefully in 6 months time these players have proved this article wrong and these players become stars at Chelsea and help push the side on to the next level and competing for titles. But things need to improve from the 6 players mentioned if they want to hold on to their spot in a very bloated and hungry squad.
