Athletic: Player Chelsea fans aren’t sure about “made very good impression” and is expected to play a lot | OneFootball

The Athletic’s article this week about Marc Guiu makes a really good point.

Most people are seeing him simply as the third choice striker, brought back from his loan at Sunderland to cover while Liam Delap is injured in the wake of Nicolas Jackson’s sale, with everyone basically hoping Joao Pedro stays fit so we don’t have to see too much of him.

However, as the article points out, he’s more than just a space filler. Chelsea apparently really believe in him, even if some fans don’t.

Chelsea believe in Guiu – and he could play more than expected

Marc Guiu leads the line for Sunderland. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

“Guiu made a very good impression in his first season at Chelsea,” writer Simon Johnson claims.

“Maresca clearly liked him. Guiu was given his debut in Chelsea’s opening Premier League game last season against defending champions Manchester City, was a late substitute in the Conference League final win over Real Betis in May and was involved at the FIFA Club World Cup. He was named on the bench on another 16 occasions, a sign that Maresca wanted to keep Guiu around the first team even if he was not getting on the pitch.”

That is all rather convincing evidence that the coach likes Guiu more than a lot of fans and supporters. He was denied his chance for a run of starts by a very unfortunately timed injury picked up in January against West Ham which coincided with Jackson’s own fitness problem.

Striker waiting for next proper chance at Chelsea

Chelsea’s decision to let Jackson go to Bayern Munich and not replace him with someone like Conrad Harder was clearly based on their belief in Guiu’s potential. We back their judgement – his chance will come soon enough. Delap could be out for months, and after having worked with Maresca for all of last year, Guiu should be ready to step in soon.