“Time for Change” – Enzo Maresca Must Drop Chelsea Duo After Palace Draw
Chelsea’s tough start to 2025 continued with a frustrating 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace in the Premier League, extending their winless run to four games.
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The Blues got off to a promising start when Cole Palmer found the net just 14 minutes into the match. Linking up brilliantly with Jadon Sancho, Palmer scored his 13th Premier League goal of the season.
Despite creating nine chances in the first half, Chelsea failed to capitalize on their dominance. Those missed opportunities came back to bite them as Crystal Palace equalized late in the game. Jean-Philippe Mateta’s 82nd-minute strike ensured the points were shared, leaving manager Enzo Maresca visibly frustrated.
While Nicolas Jackson bore much of the criticism, Marc Cucurella’s underwhelming performance also raised concerns.
Nicolas Jackson’s Ineffective Display
Jackson struggled throughout the 81 minutes he spent on the pitch. The Senegalese forward failed to register a single shot on target, missing three efforts, and completing only one successful dribble.
The highlight of his poor showing was a missed chance to double Chelsea’s lead after racing onto Palmer’s through ball. His inefficiency up front was compounded by his lack of involvement—he made just 30 touches, completed nine passes, and won only four of the 11 duels he contested.
The Express rated Jackson’s performance at a dismal 4/10, a reflection of his failure to make an impact when Chelsea needed him most.
Marc Cucurella: A Shadow of His Best
Cucurella, who has generally been reliable this season, had a day to forget against Palace. The Spaniard offered little going forward, failing to produce a single key pass or create a big chance. Defensively, he wasn’t much better—he lost possession ten times, won just three of his eight duels, and struggled to deal with Mateta, who got the better of him for the equalizer.
The Express awarded Cucurella a 5/10 rating, with journalist Tom Parsons noting his inability to prevent crosses from Palace’s right side and his lack of attacking contributions.
Opportunity for Rotation
With an FA Cup tie against Morecambe coming up, Maresca has the perfect opportunity to reshuffle his squad. Dropping Cucurella to the bench in favor of Renato Veiga could benefit both the player and the team. This rotation would also allow Chelsea to preserve key players for their Premier League clash against Bournemouth just three days later.
Final Thoughts
Chelsea’s inability to close out games and individual performances like those from Jackson and Cucurella underscore the need for tactical adjustments and personnel changes. As Maresca looks to spark a turnaround, benching underperformers and giving younger players a chance could be the shake-up Chelsea desperately needs.
