Noni Madueke could be the new Thierry Henry after “threat in behind” Maresca comments | OneFootball

Chelsea are on the back foot right now because of their injury crisis. Strikers Marc Guiu and Nicolas Jackson are set to be out for multiple months, and a big theme in the press conference today was questions about how the Blues would cope without them.

Enzo Maresca admitted that he and his coaches were working hard on new “solutions” to use their squad to make up for the lack of a number 9:

“We are working, because of the Nico and Marc situation, we are trying to find different solutions. That can be Christo because he played the last game, or it can be different kind of players. If you don’t have a proper nine, who can be a threat always, you have to change not only the nine but also a bit the way you want to play.”

Of course this was all rather vague, so one journalist made a direct suggestion to him – how about putting a winger up front? The squad has more depth there, and it would get another attacking player on the field. Maresca was certainly open to the idea:

“It could be a solution, for sure. Noni [Madueke], Pedro [Neto] or even Tyrique [George], they can try and be a solution for us. Jadon [Sancho] with different kind of skills. When you don’t have a proper nine, you probably need to use a different kind of nine but you probably have to change the way you want to play. You cannot be direct; you probably need more linking because you don’t have a threat in behind. We will find a solution.”

Enforced change could lead to a new spark for struggling Chelsea attack

Enzo Maresca speaks at a Cobham press conference. (Photo by Chris Lee/Chelsea FC)

Of course none of those players are going to be a physical hold-up striker, but we don’t see why they couldn’t be the “threat in behind” that Maresca wants. Someone like Madueke or Neto have plenty of explosiveness and just need to practice timing their runs and their general movement off the defender’s shoulder.

It’s not an ideal solution – but then again there are no ideal solutions left. Who knows, maybe Madueke will end up being the new Thierry Henry? The Frenchman was converted from winger to striker at Arsenal and never looked back.

Wishful thinking? Maybe. But that’s all we’ve got to cling onto right now.