The past two seasons have been far from Chelsea’s most successful. After finishing 12th in 2022-23 and then securing only a 6th-place finish in 2023-24—qualifying for the Europa Conference League—the Blues must return to the top four and secure Champions League football. Firstly, that is where a club of Chelsea’s stature belongs, having won the Champions League as recently as 2020-21. Additionally, since Todd Boehly took charge, replacing Roman Abramovich—who was forced to sell the club following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine—Chelsea have spent over a billion pounds on new signings. Strong performances are now essential to avoid financial fair play (FFP) complications. With such a deep squad, Maresca has plenty of options, but what is his best possible XI?
A Simple Decision Between the Sticks
Despite having eight goalkeepers on their books, Chelsea’s choice for the No. 1 role has been straightforward. Five of them have been sent out on loan, leaving just three at the club. Marcus Bettinelli, who joined in 2021, has played only once and is not a genuine contender. Filip Jorgensen, a recent signing at 22, is more of a long-term prospect. That leaves Robert Sánchez as the clear first-choice keeper, having played every match so far this season.
Last season, Sánchez was the starter until a mid-December injury ruled him out for the remainder of the campaign. Standing at 6ft 5in, he is dominant in the air while also being quick on his feet. His recent penalty save against Bournemouth (Chelsea’s 1-0 win) was a crucial moment in ensuring victory for the Blues.
A Settled Defensive Line at Last?
Chelsea’s biggest issue last season was their defensive fragility. While Mauricio Pochettino’s team scored plenty of goals, they conceded just as many. Under the Argentine, the defence usually consisted of Marc Cucurella at left-back, Malo Gusto on the right, and a centre-back pairing of Axel Disasi with either Thiago Silva or Benoît Badiashile.
This season, the full-backs remain unchanged. Cucurella continues on the left, while Gusto, recovering from a minor injury, is expected to return next weekend, with Reece James still struggling with persistent muscle issues that have plagued him for three years. However, the centre-back duo has been overhauled, bringing in youth, balance, and stability.
At 21 and 22 years old, Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana finally have a chance to establish themselves after difficult periods. Colwill missed the second half of last season with a foot injury, while Fofana has endured a torrid few years: a broken fibula in 2021-22 (effectively ruling out that season), two knee injuries the following year, and then a cruciate ligament rupture that kept him out for the entirety of last season.
Now, Fofana has remained injury-free at the start of this campaign. Despite conceding a penalty last week, the new partnership has shown promise. Their speed allows Chelsea to play a high defensive line, while both are adept at carrying the ball forward and breaking opposition lines. Speaking to Chelsea’s official website, Colwill praised his defensive partner:
“Fofana is an incredible player, and I love playing alongside him. He’s so aggressive, and I think we complement each other really well. Off the pitch, he’s a great guy too. I get on with him really well, and I think the whole squad does. We’ve created a lot of chances by building out from the back. You can see the manager’s philosophy, and there are definitely plenty of positives to take.”
A Midfield Still Taking Shape
One of the most surprising and unpopular decisions this summer was Chelsea’s sale of Conor Gallagher to Atlético Madrid. Last season, he was an undisputed starter, and his absence has left a gap in midfield. So far, Chelsea have played with a two-man midfield (excluding Palmer, who operates further forward) in all but one match.
Enzo Fernández is the first name on the teamsheet in midfield. A dominant ball-winner and an excellent passer, his absence due to illness last weekend was sorely felt as Chelsea’s midfield struggled against Bournemouth.
The main question is who partners him: Moisés Caicedo or Roméo Lavia? Lavia has impressed in the few appearances he has made, bringing a level of aggression that the others lack in central areas. On the other hand, Caicedo, while capable of occasional moments of brilliance, has been inconsistent, and his lapses in concentration have cost Chelsea on multiple occasions. Earlier this season, a poor first touch led to Wolves’ equaliser before Chelsea eventually won 6-2.
Despite this inconsistency, Caicedo’s £116 million price tag seems to guarantee him a starting spot. In the opening game against Manchester City (a 2-0 defeat), Maresca experimented with Fernández playing ahead of both Lavia and Caicedo, but after Lavia picked up a minor injury, that setup was abandoned. With Lavia expected to return next weekend, Maresca will have a major selection headache, though so far, the Belgian has primarily been used as a substitute.
An Attack Still in Progress
Chelsea’s frontline has been reshuffled three times in just four Premier League matches, with only one player a guaranteed starter: Cole Palmer. Voted Chelsea’s Player of the Year and Premier League Young Player of the Season last term, he occupies the No. 10 role.
On the right wing, Noni Madueke seems to have earned his spot, at least in the short term, thanks to his hat-trick against Wolves, which also secured him a call-up to the England senior squad.
The left-wing position remains unsettled. Christopher Nkunku started the first game but was subbed off after an hour. Mykhailo Mudryk was then given a run but failed to impress, leading to Pedro Neto getting two starts. However, none of these three are expected to hold their place.
Against Bournemouth, Neto was subbed off at half-time for Chelsea’s latest signing, Jadon Sancho, who produced a superb second half and won the Man of the Match award. Praised by Maresca, this performance could well earn him a starting role.
Finally, Chelsea’s biggest issue last season was finishing. They created plenty of chances but squandered too many. Striker Nicolas Jackson ended the 2023-24 campaign with 14 goals, but based on his Expected Goals (xG), he should have scored 20, making him the second-most underperforming striker in the league behind Liverpool’s Darwin Núñez.
This inefficiency in front of goal has continued into the new season, potentially forcing Maresca into a change. At just 18, new signing Marc Guiu is not yet ready to lead the line, but Christopher Nkunku might be. Previously used as a left-winger, the Frenchman has shown his clinical finishing ability, particularly with his goal against Bournemouth, a superb effort from a tight angle that secured an underwhelming Chelsea victory. His superior finishing ability compared to Jackson could be the key to resolving Chelsea’s attacking woes and securing a long-awaited return to the Premier League’s top four.
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