Forget Jackson: Maresca must axe 4/10 Chelsea dud who lost 85% duels
da realbet： Chelsea claimed a 1-0 win over London rivals Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge last night, edging them one step closer to securing a Champions League place.
da bet vitoria： Enzo Fernández’s header in the second half secured all three points for Enzo Maresca’s men, securing their third Premier League win in the last four outings.
Pape Matar Sarr thought he had clinched a point for the visitors, but his effort was ruled out after a foul on Moises Caicedo in the build up to his long-range effort.
The Blues could’ve easily won the game by more than a one-goal margin, but ultimately, the boss will be happy to gain another victory in their hunt to return to Europe’s biggest competition.
However, despite the victory, numerous players failed to deliver in West London, potentially putting their starting role in the first-team at risk between now and the end of the season.
Chelsea’s poor performers against Tottenham Hotspur
Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez has had his doubters over the last few months, with his ability to be the club’s number one in the long-term coming into question.
The Spaniard was let off the hook by Sarr’s effort, with the 27-year-old beaten by the strike, but he should’ve easily kept it out after getting a hand on it before pushing into the ground.
Striker Nicolas Jackson made his return to action after an injury lay-off last night but failed to deliver – highlighting the need for added investment within the final third this summer.
The Senegalese international only completed eight passes during his 82-minute display, also failing to complete any of his three dribbles – showcasing his wasteful nature when having the ball at his feet.
However, despite the lack of quality from the aforementioned duo at the Bridge, one other first-team member also failed to deliver, with Maresca needing to take action ahead of the club’s next outing.
The Chelsea dud who needs to be dropped after Spurs
Despite sitting in the top four with just eight games to go this campaign, Chelsea have endured some tricky periods throughout the last few months – with many players failing to deliver.
Frustrations have grown within the fanbase as a result, especially considering the amount of money spent in West London over the last couple of seasons.
They could be about to drop more money on winger Jadon Sancho this summer, with the club expected to trigger his £25m clause within his loan deal.
However, the 25-year-old did himself no favours with his showing last night, once again failing to produce the goods amid murmurs around his long-term future.
The winger featured for 68 minutes before becoming the first Blues player to be withdrawn, understandably so given his lack of impact against Ange Postecoglou’s men.
Whilst he was unlucky not to find the back of the net with his effort expertly saved, his strike was the highlight of what was a dismal overall showing on the night.
He failed to complete any of his attempted dribbles, whilst also being unable to find a teammate with any of his crosses – showcasing his lack of quality in attacking areas.
Jadon Sancho’s stats for Chelsea against Tottenham
Statistics (per 90)
Tally
Minutes played
68
Touches
38
Possession lost
9x
Dribbles completed
0/2 (0%)
Crosses completed
0/1 (0%)
Duels lost
6/7 (85%)
Shots taken
2
Stats via SofaScore
Sancho also only managed 38 touches during the win, losing possession nine times, subsequently gifting the ball away every four times he had it at his feet.
He was shrugged off the ball multiple times by full-back Djed Spence, losing 85% of the duels he entered, further highlighting how poor he was against their London rivals.
As a result, the attacker was handed a measly 4/10 match rating from The Express’ Alex Turk, compounding his misery on a personal level.
Given his showing, Maresca simply can’t afford to start Sancho ahead of the club’s next league outing, with Champions League qualification still hugely up for grabs.
It’s an unforgiving division, with numerous sides waiting to pounce should they slip up, with all players needing to deliver if they are to achieve their goal.
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