The dust is settling on a disappointing Chelsea defeat in their friendly against Man City, and already attentions are turning to the next game and beyond.
As manager Enzo Maresca has said time and again (especially after defeats), these games are all about preparation for the big kick off on the 18th, and a key part of that is getting the players he’s going to want to use out there are getting minutes in their legs.
With Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo now getting some minutes, there’s only one potential starting player on the tour we’ve yet to see in action – Nicolas Jackson.
He’s not going to solve all the defensive mistakes we’ve seen in the back line since Maresca took over, but he will give us the hard running and dynamic play leading the line that should make us more dangerous in attack. And he’s not far from a return.
Hope currently is for Nicolas Jackson to get some minutes vs Real Madrid so long as all goes well today/tomorrow. Chelsea striker not yet been seen in any of USA friendlies
— Kieran Gill (@kierangill_DM) August 4, 2024
An important return to boost morale
Kieran Gill of the Daily Mail has today reported that Jackson is to get “some minutes” against Real Madrid on Wednesday night in our final game in the USA. Presumably he will then build on that in the game at Stamford Bridge against Inter, and if all goes well he’ll have built up enough to start our first Premier League game two weeks today.
Marc Guiu impressed more than expected in Jackson’s absence, but he’s just 18 and can’t compare to the full package that Jackson can offer. This team needs a boost after some pretty disappointing results, and this could well bring a big one. We’re curious to see how Jackson gets on this year after so much promise – but some issues – last season. The sooner he gets up to speed the better. Let’s hope all goes to plan and he gets half an hour or more on Wednesday.
