A very gutted Enzo Maresca last night spoke to the media after Chelsea’s defeat to Newcastle at St James’ Park, where the result wasn’t the only damage done to the Blues’ Champions League hopes.
Nicolas Jackson got a red card which will rule him out of the final two games of the season suspended. That issue is compounded by the fact that we don’t really have a backup striker in the squad. We have Marc Guiu, who is very raw and has been injured since January.
With Jadon Sancho unable to play the first game against his parent club Manchester United, that means big questions for the lineup on Friday night.
Speaking about the situation after the game, Maresca seemed to rule out the prospect of the Catalan coming in for either of the two remaining matches.
Maresca plays down chances of youngster making surprise return
“What you have to do is avoid this kind of thing because you need all your squad available for the next game,” the Chelsea manager said.
“[Jackson] is our nine, he’s our striker, the other one is Marc Guiu that you know is already injured from the last three months.
“He’s close to being back and we need to find a different solution for the last two games. They are both important games.”
Guiu likely to wait until next season for next Chelsea appearance
Being close to being back isn’t really good enough. If it was prime Didier Drogba maybe we could throw him in. But this guy is a raw teenager who will be totally out of match fitness. It would be crazy to even give him a go.
It doesn’t feel at all impossible that Guiu is loaned out in the summer, and then sold in the future, meaning he would already have played his final competitive game for Chelsea.
Maresca should be fired period not once did hr play a winning side he changed every week that is why the players don’t understand each others play the excuses he makes to leave Reece out makes me think of dislike our captain now does hf know anything about soccer I wonder
He should have started with three midfielders in the middle from the start against Newcastle because that midfield would have been run down in the first half not like in the second half when we were already a man down. Use your head, study the Manchester United game and be flexible quickly.
If Reece had started, then double pivot of Caicedo and Lavia from the first minute. Enzo Fernandez further in front, palmer slightly to the right. This would have been a different story. Chelsea would have won in first half
Tosin has shown a few times that he can strike the ball. In the absence of a striker, I suggest we give him a try