Chelsea’s journey under Enzo Maresca has been a tale of promise and frustration in equal measure. Following their triumphant FIFA Club World Cup victory, expectations soared for the Blues to mount a serious Premier League title challenge. However, nine matches into the 2025/26 season, Chelsea finds themselves in ninth position, grappling with the same inconsistency that has plagued several “Big Six” clubs this term.
With just six points from their last five Premier League encounters, including a devastating last-minute defeat to Sunderland, Maresca faces mounting pressure to unlock his squad’s potential. As Chelsea prepares for their crucial encounter against Tottenham, five fundamental questions demand immediate answers.
Table of Contents
1. Should Chelsea Embrace More Direct, High-Risk Football?
The Tactical Evolution Under Maresca
Maresca’s most successful moments this season have come when he deviated from his typical possession-based philosophy. The victories against Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup final and Liverpool on October 4th shared striking tactical similarities that hint at a potentially game-changing approach.
| Match | Tactical Approach | Result | Key Elements |
|---|---|---|---|
| vs PSG (Club World Cup Final) | Direct pressing, fast breaks | Win | Man-to-man pressing, counter-attacks |
| vs Liverpool (Oct 4) | High-intensity harassment | 2-1 Win | Midfield disruption, quick transitions |
| vs Sunderland | Conservative approach | 1-2 Loss | Defensive substitutions |
Chelsea’s direct speed currently stands at just 1.58 metres per second, the lowest in the Premier League. This conservative approach, while maintaining possession, has often left the team vulnerable when requiring urgency and attacking dynamism.
The Substitution Dilemma
Maresca’s substitution patterns reveal a concerning trend toward risk aversion. Against Sunderland, withdrawing goalscorer Alejandro Garnacho and striker Marc Guiu drew significant criticism. Similarly, the immediate switch to a defensive five-man backline following Robert Sanchez’s red card against Manchester United showcased a mentality that prioritizes damage limitation over attacking solutions.
2. Can Defensive Consistency Provide the Foundation Chelsea Needs?
The Numbers Tell a Troubling Story
Chelsea’s defensive statistics paint a concerning picture of their current struggles:
- 9 errors leading to opposition shots (4th highest in the Premier League)
- 13.1 Expected Goals conceded (6th highest in the league)
- 15 substitutional changes to the back four in just nine matches
The Rotation Problem
Maresca’s constant tinkering with his defensive lineup has prevented any meaningful chemistry from developing. The manager has changed at least one member of his back four six times this season, with half of all matches featuring two or more changes to the defensive setup.
| Matchweek Transition | Defensive Changes |
|---|---|
| MW 1-2 | 2 changes |
| MW 2-3 | 0 changes |
| MW 3-4 | 2 changes |
| MW 4-5 | 2 changes |
| MW 5-6 | 1 change |
| MW 6-7 | 2 changes |
| MW 7-8 | 1 change |
| MW 8-9 | 0 changes |
This constant reshuffling, while sometimes necessitated by injuries to key players like Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana, has prevented the development of crucial defensive partnerships and communication that are essential for Premier League success.
3. How Should Chelsea Navigate Having the League’s Youngest Squad?
The Double-Edged Sword of Youth
At an average age of 24 years and 112 days, Chelsea possesses the youngest squad in the Premier League. Remarkably, Maresca has never fielded a player over 30 years old, creating a unique dynamic that brings both opportunities and challenges.
Advantages of Youth:
- Fresh ideas and fearless energy
- High adaptability to new systems
- Long-term potential for development
Challenges of Inexperience:
- Inevitable inconsistency in performance
- Lack of leadership during crucial moments
- Difficulty managing pressure situations
The correlation between Chelsea’s youthful roster and their inconsistent results cannot be ignored. While this approach aligns with the club’s long-term vision, it requires patience and tactical adjustments to maximize potential while minimizing growing pains.
4. Who Will Step Up as Chelsea’s Consistent Goalscorer?
The Palmer Void and Scoring Distribution
Cole Palmer’s absence until December has exposed Chelsea’s reliance on their star playmaker. Despite scoring 17 goals this season (joint-most in the Premier League), the distribution of these goals among 10 different scorers reveals both strength and weakness in their attacking approach.
| Top Scorers 2025/26 | Goals | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Enzo Fernandez | 3 | Midfielder |
| Moises Caicedo | 3 | Midfielder |
| Various Players | 1-2 each | Multiple |
While goal distribution demonstrates tactical flexibility, the lack of a clinical finisher has cost Chelsea crucial points in matches against Crystal Palace (0-0), Sunderland (1-2), and Brighton (1-3), where they outshot their opponents but failed to capitalize.
The Striker Situation
The anticipated return of Liam Delap from injury provides hope for more direct attacking options. Young Marc Guiu, still searching for his first Premier League goal, and Joao Pedro, who prefers deeper roles, require additional support to provide the cutting edge Maresca seeks.
5. Can Chelsea Learn to Protect and Extend Their Leads?
The Home Disadvantage
Chelsea’s inability to hold onto leads has become a defining characteristic of their season. Eight points dropped from winning positions, with six of those occurring at Stamford Bridge, highlights a systemic issue that extends beyond individual errors.
Contributing Factors:
- Disciplinary Issues: Three red cards (highest in the league)
- Defensive Instability: Constant lineup changes affecting chemistry
- Conservative Substitutions: Failing to kill games when ahead
The Compound Effect
Chelsea’s lead-protection problems stem from the convergence of multiple issues identified above. A more consistent defensive selection would provide stability, greater experience would aid composure, and improved attacking substitutions could turn narrow 1-0 leads into comfortable 2-0 advantages.
The Path Forward: Tactical Solutions for Tottenham
As Chelsea prepares for their North London encounter with Tottenham, Maresca must address these five critical areas simultaneously. The answers may not come overnight, but tactical adjustments can provide immediate improvements:
- Embrace calculated aggression in substitutions and game management
- Establish defensive consistency through settled lineups when players are available
- Leverage youth energy while providing clear leadership structures
- Develop diverse attacking threats to compensate for Palmer’s absence
- Implement game-management protocols to protect leads more effectively
Chelsea’s potential under Enzo Maresca remains immense, but realizing it requires decisive action across multiple tactical dimensions. The upcoming fixture against Tottenham presents an ideal opportunity to demonstrate progress in these crucial areas. Success against their London rivals could provide the momentum needed to transform early-season inconsistency into a genuine title challenge.
The foundations are in place – from their Club World Cup triumph to their impressive goal-scoring record. Now, Maresca must prove he can adapt his methods to unlock the full potential of his young, talented squad while maintaining the tactical discipline that brought him to Stamford Bridge.
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FAQs
Why has Chelsea struggled despite scoring the joint-most goals in the Premier League?
While Chelsea have scored 17 goals, their defensive issues (13.1 xG conceded) and inability to hold leads (8 points dropped from winning positions) have prevented them from converting attacking prowess into consistent results.
How significant is Cole Palmer’s absence for Chelsea’s attacking play?
Palmer’s absence until December is substantial as he was last season’s top scorer with 15 goals. His creative influence and goal threat from midfield are currently being spread among multiple players, reducing overall effectiveness.
What tactical changes has Maresca made that have been most successful?
Maresca’s most successful tactical shifts have involved adopting more direct, high-pressing approaches against PSG and Liverpool, moving away from his typical possession-based style when the situation demands urgency.
How does Chelsea’s youth compare to other Premier League teams?
Chelsea has the youngest average squad age in the Premier League at 24 years and 112 days, with Maresca never fielding a player over 30. This youth brings energy but also contributes to inconsistent performances.
What are Chelsea’s main defensive problems this season?
Chelsea’s defensive issues stem from constant lineup changes (six different back-four combinations), high error count (9 leading to shots), and lack of settled partnerships due to injuries and rotation policies.
