Chelsea’s progress under their new manager, Enzo Maresca, is becoming increasingly apparent as the team adapts to his tactical philosophy.
Although their season began with a challenging defeat to reigning champions Manchester City, the Blues responded emphatically in their next match, securing a dominant 6-2 victory over Wolves.
This performance highlighted the team’s attacking potential, with standout contributions from Noni Madueke and Cole Palmer, who led the charge against Gary O’Neil’s side.
However, Chelsea’s momentum was disrupted by a frustrating 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace, a team struggling for form. The draw was seen as a missed opportunity and a step back after such a promising display.
Nevertheless, Chelsea managed to regain their footing with a gritty 1-0 win over Bournemouth, achieved through Christopher Nkunku’s late winner and a vital penalty save from goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
Sanchez’s performance was pivotal, as he finally delivered a display worthy of his reputation, keeping Chelsea in the game at crucial moments.
Nkunku’s role in the team has been a point of discussion, as the forward started the season opener against Manchester City but has since been relegated to the bench for league matches.
This decision appears to reflect the stiff competition for attacking roles under Maresca. However, after several underwhelming displays by his teammates, Nkunku could find himself back in the starting XI for the next fixture.
One player who particularly struggled was defender Axel Disasi. Normally a central defender, Disasi was deployed as a right-back against Bournemouth due to the absences of Reece James and Malo Gusto.
This positional adjustment proved to be a misstep, as Disasi delivered a disappointing performance. Substituted after just 61 minutes, his outing was marred by poor defensive stats: he failed to win any duels, was dribbled past twice, and lost possession nine times. His offensive contributions were equally lacking, with no crosses, dribbles, or key passes completed.
Similarly, Pedro Neto had a forgettable game. Despite an assist in the earlier Wolves match, Neto has largely underperformed since his summer move to Chelsea.
Against Bournemouth, his ineffective display led to a halftime substitution for debutant Jadon Sancho. Neto managed just 67% pass accuracy, one key pass, and failed to completea single dribble.
