Chelsea’s progress under their newly appointed manager, Enzo Maresca, is steadily becoming more evident as the season unfolds. Their campaign began on a difficult note with an expected loss to reigning champions Manchester City. However, the team quickly bounced back with an emphatic 6-2 victory over Wolves. This dominant display showcased Chelsea’s attacking capabilities, with standout performances from Noni Madueke and Cole Palmer, who played crucial roles in dismantling Gary O’Neil’s side.
Despite this positive turnaround, Chelsea’s momentum was momentarily stalled when they were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Crystal Palace. Considering Palace’s recent struggles, the result was a disappointment, preventing the Blues from fully capitalizing on their attacking resurgence. Nevertheless, Chelsea managed to recover in their next fixture against Bournemouth, securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory in a tense contest.
The game remained goalless for much of the match, with Chelsea struggling to break down Bournemouth’s defense. However, a late goal from Christopher Nkunku sealed the win, allowing Chelsea to regain their footing. Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez played a pivotal role in the victory, making several crucial saves, including a penalty stop that kept his team in the game. His impressive performance ensured that Chelsea remained in contention before Nkunku eventually found the breakthrough in the final moments.
Interestingly, Nkunku, who was part of the starting eleven in Chelsea’s opening match against Manchester City, has since been limited to appearances from the bench in league games. This is likely due to intense competition in the squad, particularly in the attacking department, under Maresca’s leadership. However, given that some players have struggled to impress, Nkunku could find himself back in the starting lineup in the coming fixtures.
One of the more underwhelming performances in Chelsea’s recent matches came from defender Axel Disasi, who was deployed in an unfamiliar right-back role during the Bournemouth game. With both Reece James and Malo Gusto unavailable, Maresca opted to experiment with Disasi, who is naturally a central defender. Unfortunately, the adjustment did not work out, as Disasi struggled throughout his time on the pitch. He was ineffective both defensively and offensively, failing to win any one-on-one duels, being dribbled past twice, and losing possession nine times. Additionally, he contributed nothing in attack, failing to deliver any crosses, complete any dribbles, or provide key passes. As a result, he was substituted after just 61 minutes.
Similarly, Pedro Neto endured a difficult outing on the opposite flank. Neto, who arrived at Chelsea during the summer transfer window, failed to make an impact in the game. According to Alex Richards of *The Mirror*, his performance was largely “invisible.” Neto managed to complete only 67% of his passes, provided just one key pass, and failed in all his dribble attempts before being substituted at halftime for Jadon Sancho.
Making his Chelsea debut, Sancho immediately made his presence felt, assisting Nkunku’s winning goal and earning the man-of-the-match award. His impressive performance could put him in contention for more starting opportunities in the future. Given the fierce competition for places in Chelsea’s attacking lineup, forwards must consistently perform to retain their spots. Neto, who initially showed promise by providing an assist in the victory against Wolves, has since struggled to maintain that form.
With Noni Madueke and Cole Palmer firmly established as Maresca’s preferred right-wing options, Neto now faces a difficult challenge in reclaiming a regular starting role. Even on the left flank, his position is under threat, as Sancho’s strong debut suggests he could become an integral player in Chelsea’s setup moving forward.
