Enzo Maresca and Chelsea began the season on a shaky note, suffering a two-nil defeat to reigning champion Manchester City on match day one of the league campaign.
The defeat was apparently excusable and pardonable for a handful of reasons. First, Man City were the reigning champions and a huge favourite to win the match played at the Etihad stadium.
Secondly, it was Enzo Maresca’s first official assignment at Chelsea and one would imagine the new manager needs time to adjust and adapt to the new challenge ahead.
Also, Chelsea had undergone a major team overhaul during the summer transfer window, where several players were brought in and a few others exited the club.
The team overhaul and rebuilding process at the club caused some uncertainties among the club’s supporters who were unsure of what to expect of their club this season.
Enzo Maresca, however, soon rose to the occasion to reassure fans that he is the right man for the job. After losing the opening fixture, he handed a heavy (6 -2) defeat to Wolves in the next fixture to boost the confidence of his employers and the club’s supporters.
He then embarked on an impressive spree of results in the next fifteen rounds of the campaign to emerge among the favourites to win the league.
But like a pack of cards, that momentum seems to have crumbled and hopes of Chelsea winning the League title this season have almost vanished given their poor results in the last seven league games.
What is Chelsea’s Problem
The problem at Chelsea is not peculiar to the club, most clubs who set out to rebuild it teams often suffer similar problems.
The new owners of the club are on the process of rebuilding the team so that it can compete favourably in the league and Europe.
Rebuilding a team comes with several challenges and here are some challenges or problems currently plaguing Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea team.
Ideological Problem
Todd Boehly and some investors recently acquired the club from its former Russian Owner, Roman Abramovich. The new owners of the club appear to be implementing some new reforms to the club’s operation.
This is evident in the club’s change of coach and backroom staff since the change in ownership. The new method of operation is in its early phase, and may soon become effective when fully understood and properly implemented.
Too Many Average Players at Chelsea
Chelsea has too many players on its payroll, far more than the 23 players currently in the team, many other players are out on loan. The majority of the players are average at best with no special talent.
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This is one of the reasons the club is suffering from a lack of form. Most players in the team lack what it takes to excel in a competitive league like the Premier League.
Goalkeeper Problem
The club is yet to get a longtime dependable goalkeeper since Thibaut Courtois exited the club. This problem has been ongoing for the last 6 years despite the huge amount spent on goalkeepers.
Recall that Chelsea spent a huge amount to buy Kepper From Athletic Bilbao but the Spanish shot-stopper failed to repay the club for the confidence reposed in him.
Mendy came in and performed excellently during his short period at the club and even played a crucial role in helping the premier league team win the Champions League.
After the impressive Champions League winning campaign for Chelsea, Mendy lost his starting berth at the club following a protracted contract tussle between the Senegalese keeper and Chelsea.
Sanchez is currently the first-choice goalkeeper at the club since his move from Brighton last season. He has had his ups and downs at the club with many fans saying he is prone to errors.
The shot-stopper has committed too many errors that begs the question of whether he is the right man to man the goalpost in the club’s rebuilding project.
Chelsea may need to buy a dependable shot-stopper in the next transfer window to address the goalkeeping problem that has lingered for some years.
Defensive Problem
This is another department Enzo Maresca and Chelsea need to address urgently. The club lacks quality central defenders.
The last time we saw an effective central defensive pair at Chelsea was when Rudiger and Thiago Silver played together.
The two defenders have since departed and Chelsea are yet to get dependable central defenders. The lack of a quality central defensive pair has contributed to the Chelsea’s recent run of poor form.
Chelsea’s Attacking Problem
Nickolas Jackson is currently in his second season at the club. His performance in his first season was below par even though he showed some glimpse of brilliance in some games.
Critics were lenient in his assessment last season because it was his first season. This season, Jackson raised the hopes of fans following some brilliant performances in the first ten rounds of league games.
It appeared the Senegalese would be a handful for Premier League defenders given his booming partnership with Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke.
The trio formed a partnership that seemed prolific at the beginning, scoring many goals and making Chelsea appear as a title contender.
But in the second half of the season, the attack has become a shadow of itself with the attack struggling to find the back of the net in matches.
Jackson has been at the receiving end of most criticism for Chelsea’s woes this season with Mikel Obi, an icon and former midfielder of the club particularly critical of the striker.
Chelsea’s attack has been lacklustre in recent games and needs to improve significantly to help reposition the club.
Chelsea Injury Problem
The club has also suffered its share of injury problems since the beginning of this season. Players like Reece James and Fofana have been sidelined due to injuries.
James has appeared sparingly in matches and seems not to have regained his pre-injury match fitness.
Also, Nickolas Jackson has missed some matches to injury. Injuries to key players have also contributed to the club’s struggles this season.
Possible Solution to Chelsea’s Problem
Enzo Maresca needs a tactical change to address the challenges in Chelsea. The Italian coach needs to balance attack and defence.
Teams which are too attack-minded have shown to suffer a lot in defence. Enzo needs to strike a balance between the two ends.
Also, signing a top striker with an excellent conversion rate in the next transfer window would help the team a lot in it rebuilding process.
Lastly, Chelsea and Maresca need to sign two experienced central defenders and a shot-stopper with an excellent goalkeeping record.
