Enzo Maresca is in unchartered territory at the moment after losing back-to-back matches for the first time as Chelsea head coach.
Defeats at home to Fulham on Boxing Day, followed by a 2-0 loss at the hands of Ipswich Town a few days later mean any slight hopes the Blues had of mounting a Premier League title challenge have all but disappeared. Either way, Maresca was adamant his side were never in a title race to start with.
However, they are most certainly in a battle to finish in the top four in the Premier League table this season. The next fight for Chelsea is a clash with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon.
If they are to get a positive result in south London, the Blues are going to have to drastically improve from their last two performances. With that said, Bobby Vincent takes a look at how Chelsea have to improve…
Faltering attack
In the last three matches against Everton, Fulham and Ipswich, Chelsea have only scored one goal. Bar Cole Palmer, who scored against Fulham and hit the woodwork twice in the Ipswich defeat, none of the Blues’ front-line has really showed up.
Nicolas Jackson looks to be a bit out of form. It is not the biggest concern because it has only been three games since his last goal but a return to form for the Senegal international would come at a much-needed time.Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho have both frustrated in recent matches, too, and there is a general feeling among Chelsea fans that they need more from their wingers. Noni Madueke is of course included in that as well, so Maresca needs to somehow solve the Blues’ attacking issues.
Right-back problem
Axel Disasi was used at right-back from the start against Ipswich and put in a bit of a disastrous performance in the loss at Portman Road. It is clear to all Chelsea fans that the Frenchman cannot continue to play at right-back but the form of his fellow countryman Malo Gusto has not been great either.
Reece James returned to the squad against Ipswich but Maresca explained how he will not rush his captain back to action given his torrid luck with injuries. Josh Acheampong is also an option but the teenage defender is yet to play a minute in the Premier League this term
.Discipline issue
Chelsea have the joint-most yellow cards in the Premier League this season with 56 bookings since the start of the campaign. On Monday evening, there were four yellows handed out to Blues players and it could have been more.
There was an instance, albeit 2-0 down at the time, where a few of the Chelsea players lost their heads. Enzo Fernandez and Levi Colwill, most notably, and it fuelled the Ipswich crowd, who were already incredibly loud because of their team winning.Selhurst Park can be a tough place to play football and the Palace supporters usually create one of the better atmospheres in the Premier League. Chelsea cannot afford to give them any encouragement on Saturday.
