As Chelsea fight to stay in the race for Champions League football, manager Enzo Maresca has issued a blunt message to two of his biggest attacking names: start scoring, or the team’s hopes are done.
Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson are both going through painful goal droughts—Palmer hasn’t found the back of the net in 15 games, and Jackson’s dry spell has stretched to 12.
The pair were given another shot to break the curse during Thursday night’s Conference League tie against Legia Warsaw.
Unfortunately, despite both starting, neither managed to score once again.
Chelsea Make It Through, But Fans Aren’t Happy
While Chelsea lost 2-1 on the night, they still managed to edge past Legia into the semi-finals thanks to their 4-2 aggregate lead from the first leg.
But it was far from a celebration—fans voiced their frustration, booing the team at full-time.
Now, with Fulham up next in the Premier League, Maresca isn’t downplaying the importance of that game.
He’s calling it a “final” in Chelsea’s quest for a top-five finish.
Despite criticism, Maresca defended his decision to start Palmer and Jackson just days before that high-stakes match, explaining that he hoped it would help them shake off their struggles.
Maresca Admits He’s Worried About Their Form
Speaking honestly, Maresca said the idea behind playing them was to get their physical condition up—but more importantly, to try and restore some confidence.
“To give them 45 minutes or an hour is a chance to see if they can score and feel good again,” he explained.
“But when they don’t score, of course I’m worried.”
When asked directly if Chelsea can reach their target without goals from Palmer and Jackson, Maresca didn’t sugarcoat it.
“No,” he said flatly. Pressed further, he doubled down: “Yes. It’s that simple.”
Stats Show Goals Should Have Come
The numbers back up just how frustrating this run has been.
According to Opta, Palmer has had enough chances to score at least five goals during his drought.
Jackson, too, has missed out on at least three clear opportunities.
It’s not just a lack of chances—it’s a lack of finishing.
Maresca, however, still believes in their abilities. “Cole scored 14 goals in 20 Premier League games,” he reminded reporters.
“He can do it again. Nico was in good form before his injury, but he’s still recovering physically.”
Romeo Lavia Set to Return as Injury Management Continues
There is at least one piece of good news for Chelsea: Romeo Lavia is expected to be back in the squad for Sunday’s clash with Fulham.
After dealing with repeated hamstring issues, the club is being cautious with his return.
They plan to manage him similarly to Reece James, who’s been told not to play every few days to avoid setbacks.
James, Chelsea’s captain, didn’t hold back after the loss to Legia.
His blunt honesty was praised by Maresca, who said, “Absolutely, yes,” when asked if that type of leadership is needed in the dressing room right now.
Future of Sancho and Santos Still Up in the Air
Maresca also touched on other developments behind the scenes.
The club is still undecided on what to do with Andrey Santos, who is currently on loan at Strasbourg.
He’ll be joining Chelsea for the Club World Cup in the U.S., but beyond that, nothing is set in stone.
As for Jadon Sancho, who’s on loan from Manchester United, Chelsea hasn’t yet made a decision about keeping him beyond this season—or potentially cutting the loan short and sending him back to Old Trafford.