Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to deciding on his attacking quartet. Opting for Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto and Nicolas Jackson from the off in Saturday’s late 1-0 win at Bournemouth, it was Chelsea’s substitutes who helped the west London club secure all three points on the south coast.
Christopher Nkunku was the hero for Chelsea as he fired into the bottom corner on 86 minutes after taking in debutant Jadon Sancho’s pass. The pair both came in for praise from the Italian in his post-match press conference as did fellow substitute Joao Felix.
“I think we start second half much better and Jadon helped us a lot but what he did tonight is exactly what we expected from him,” said Maresca. “As I said, I know Jadon very good because I watched him many, many times in the past and I know what he can give us.
“Then also Christoph was very good and not just because he scored but because he fought without the ball and Jadon was exactly the same. Tosin was very good.
“The performance second half changed completely but we need to learn this kind of things if we want to build something important and we want to win games first of all we need the desire to win games, win duels and to fight together.”
When it was put to him if Nkunku has now given him more of a headache after starting on the bench in the team’s last three Premier League games, Maresca said: “At the end of the game I said to the players Christoph, Cole Palmer, Jadon, Joao, Noni, Mischa, Pedro, they are not going to play all the games. What they have to do is exactly what they did tonight. If I play, I have to give all my best.
“If I go inside for 10 minutes, I have to give all my best. This will be until the end because they are seven or eight good players and we cannot play with all of them.
“Sometimes they have to be out but the important thing is they are ready when they get minutes. Christoph is doing perfect. He didn’t deserve to stay out, Mischa didn’t deserve but sometimes you have to take decisions. The good thing when they go inside is that they are ready and they give everything.”
During a week where a number of their Premier League rivals are either playing in the third round of the Carabao Cup or in Europe, Chelsea have a free week in the schedule and are next in action on Saturday afternoon away at West Ham. That gives Maresca time to decide on his starting XI to take on the Hammers at the London Stadium.
Having a few calls to make across the pitch due to Malo Gusto and Enzo Fernandez’s absence at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday evening, all eyes will certainly be on the front four Maresca plumps for. Jackson will be the favourite to start up front again despite missing some good chances at Bournemouth unless of course Maresca decides to play Nkunku as a striker from the off after his winning strike when playing in the position.
As Palmer is an automatic pick behind the striker, Maresca is left with two decisions to make over his wingers. Neto didn’t do enough in his 45 minutes at Bournemouth and could well be on course to drop out of the team to accommodate one of Sancho or Nkunku on the left. If Nkunku is to come into the team on the left and Jackson remains up front, Sancho could then be moved across to the right after his bright cameo in the Bournemouth win.
Maresca simply cannot start all of his attackers and unfortunately there are going to be players who have to settle for a place on the bench at West Ham. It is a great selection dilemma for him to have, though, and one that could be key to Chelsea having a strong season in four competitions.
Dream Chelsea attack vs West Ham: Sancho, Palmer, Nkunku; Jackson.
