Enzo Maresca: Chelsea will have to ‘change way we play’ after Nicolas Jackson injury

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·13 febbraio 2025

Enzo Maresca: Chelsea will have to ‘change way we play’ after Nicolas Jackson injury

Cheslea left without a recognised senior centre-forward after Jackson was ruled out until April

Enzo Maresca has warned his Chelsea side will have to “change the way we play”, after Nicolas Jackson was ruled out until after the March international break.

Jackson suffered a hamstring injury during last week’s victory over West Ham and, while Maresca was initially optimistic that his absence would be only short term, scans this week have revealed the issue to be worse than first thought.

Teenage understudy Marc Guiu, who had been earmarked for a more significant role in the second half of the season, was injured in the same game and Maresca confirmed last week that he is also set for a significant spell on the sidelines.

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It leaves Chelsea without a recognised senior centre-forward, with Maresca doubling down on his insistence that Christopher Nkunku is not a natural No9.

Christopher Nkunku is again set to lead the line for Chelsea at Brighton on Friday night

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Nkunku led the line in last weekend’s FA Cup defeat at Brighton and is favourite to do so again when the Blues return to the Amex in the Premier League on Friday night, but Maresca admits his entire tactical approach will have to shift without Jackson in the side.

“We are working, because of Nico and Marc’s situations, we are trying to find different solutions,” Maresca said. “That can be Christo, he played there the last game, but also different kinds of players.

“For sure, when you don’t have a proper No9 who can be a threat always, you have to change not also the No9 but also the way you want to play.

“You cannot be direct, you probably need more linking because you don’t have the threat in behind.”

Nkunku has primarily been used in the cup competitions this season and his start at Brighton was his first of any kind in more than a month.

The Frenchman was linked with a January exit amid interest from Bayern Munich and Manchester United, but now looks set to play a key part in Chelsea’s push for Champions League qualification.

“Christo could be one of the solutions but he’s not the only solution,” Maresca added. “We’re going to try to find different solutions. I said many times that I consider Christo a very important player since we started.

“The problem is that they think they’re only important if they play. If they don’t play, they don’t think they’re important.”