Enzo Maresca reaffirmed his confidence in Nicolas Jackson as Chelsea’s leading striker, despite the impressive impact of Christopher Nkunku in last weekend’s victory over Bournemouth. Nkunku came off the bench to secure a 1-0 win for the Blues with a late goal, marking Chelsea’s second win in four Premier League matches under Maresca’s guidance.
While Nkunku’s heroics may have raised questions about Chelsea’s attacking options, Maresca was quick to emphasize Jackson’s role as his number nine. The Senegalese forward has started all four league games this season and recently extended his contract with the club until 2033, reflecting the long-term trust placed in him by the management. Jackson enjoyed a strong debut season with the Blues, netting 17 goals, though he was criticized for missing several key chances.
“For me, in this moment, Nicolas is our striker, I don’t have any doubt,” Maresca confidently stated in his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s match against West Ham. “Because of the way he is working day by day and the way he is working on the ball and off the ball. In this moment, we are very happy with Nicolas. In terms of numbers, last season and this season, it’s already important numbers.”
Despite Jackson’s pivotal role, Nkunku has shown he’s ready to compete for a starting place. The French international, whose debut campaign at Stamford Bridge was marred by a knee injury, has already scored three goals in six appearances under Maresca. Purchased from RB Leipzig for £52 million, Nkunku is slowly regaining the form that made him one of Europe’s most exciting forwards.
Maresca dismissed any concerns about squad congestion, pointing to the depth and balance across Chelsea’s forward line. “As a left winger, we have Jadon (Sancho) and Misha (Mykhailo Mudryk). As right wingers, we have Noni (Madueke) and Pedro (Neto). As attacking midfielder, we have Cole (Palmer) and Joao (Felix). As a nine, we have Nkunku and Nico. There are not so many players, we have two players in each position,” he said, reinforcing his confidence in the squad’s composition.
The Italian manager, who led Leicester City to Premier League promotion last season, has experienced a whirlwind start to life at Stamford Bridge since replacing Mauricio Pochettino. After a rocky pre-season tour in the United States and a frantic transfer window, Maresca has had to face questions about rumored tensions between Chelsea co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali. Despite these off-field distractions, Maresca has managed to bring stability to the team on the pitch.
Chelsea’s only Premier League loss so far has been to reigning champions Manchester City, but they secured their place in the UEFA Conference League group stages with a victory over Swiss side Servette. Reflecting on the team’s progress, Maresca remarked, “We are ahead of where I expected, to be honest. Since I have started, the players have been open-minded and they are taking in all of the information.”
With Chelsea seemingly finding their rhythm under Maresca’s guidance, fans will be eager to see if Jackson and Nkunku can continue to thrive as the Blues push for success on both domestic and European fronts.