Chelsea FC is undergoing one of its most challenging phases of the 2024-25 Premier League season, as performances and injuries have significantly impacted the team's title aspirations. After starting the season with considerable promise, the Blues find themselves wrestling with both player form and tactical choices, leaving fans questioning the squad's depth and resilience.
Striker Nicolas Jackson, for example, began the season with great enthusiasm, netting nine goals, which positioned Chelsea as one of the leading contenders for the Premier League title. The club invested £32 million to secure Jackson from Villarreal during the summer of 2023. Despite amassing 17 goals across all competitions during his first season at Stamford Bridge, Jackson faced scrutiny for inconsistent finishing, contributing to Chelsea's mid-season struggles.
Former England striker Gary Lineker shared his endorsement of Jackson’s potential, stating on the podcast "The Rest is Football," “There’s a lot of good in his game. His movement is really good. It’s not easy if you’re not a natural finisher and I don’t think he is one.” This acknowledgment reflects both hope and criticism surrounding Jackson, as he aims to develop his skills to become 'top-class' for Chelsea.
Nevertheless, as the New Year approached, the team saw its momentum stall; Jackson went through four games without scoring, coinciding with Chelsea's disheartening performance—a draw against relegation-threatened Everton and consecutive losses to Fulham and Ipswich Town. The pattern continued as they managed only a draw against Crystal Palace, another team languishing near the bottom of the table, leading to media speculation and critiques of the player's consistency.
Ex-Manchester City defender Micah Richards weighed in on the situation, emphasizing, “Jackson needs to be more clinical, he needs to finish off games and put games to bed.” His analysis points toward the broader issue of Chelsea’s inability to capitalize on opportunities, which has cost them dearly over the last few matches.
Head coach Enzo Maresca, who has been attempting to steer Chelsea through these turbulent waters, recognized the gravity of the current predicament as the team slipped from being title challengers to struggling to solidify their top-four status within the league table. With four games producing only two draws and two defeats, Maresca is grappling with how to adjust both tactically and psychologically within his squad.
The team's defensive record has raised eyebrows, particularly as Maresca has acknowledged weaknesses within this structure. Sporting legends like Richards have pointedly noted Chelsea’s recent defensive sloppiness. Richards commented, “Maresca’s took them on to a new level,” validating his admiration for Maresca's leadership but stressing the need to address defensive issues swiftly or risk losing ground on title aspirations.
This concern is compounded by injuries to key players like Wesley Fofana, ruled out for the season, and Benoit Badiashile unavailable for several additional weeks— worsening Chelsea’s capacity to maintain defensive solidity. The absence of central defenders puts extra pressure on the attack, which must strive for multiple goals each game under these challenging circumstances.
Given these mounting challenges, former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel fervently argues for greater opportunities for Joao Felix, who has found himself benched for three of the last four league games. Mikel stated, “I keep thinking, why has Joao Felix not been playing? He’s been frozen out,” calling for Maresca to find effective strategies to integrate Felix back onto the pitch—underscoring the necessity of utilizing their squad’s talents effectively.
Felix, who was signed from Atletico Madrid for £45 million, appears to have fallen out of favor as he struggles to break through the starting eleven, largely due to the emergence of Cole Palmer taking up the playmaker position. The player has only started three out of his ten Premier League appearances, leading to frustration as his talents go underutilized.
Reflecting on Felix's situation, pundit Jamie Carragher’s initial concerns now resonate strongly, as he questioned his positioning within the club's tactical setup back when Felix was acquired: “You have bought Joao Felix, right? Tell me where he is going to play.”
With Chelsea's prospects hanging by a thread, fans are increasingly hopeful for tactical adjustments from Maresca to enable Felix's contributions, alongside those of Jackson, as they seek to recapture earlier performances. The management's decisions and the players' development capabilities will be put to the test as Chelsea navigates this precarious juncture of their season.
Chelsea remains clinging to fourth place, much higher than pre-season expectations, but must rally if they hope to maintain their spot or ambitiously push forward. With 18 games still to play, there’s potential for revival if the right changes are made to address both individual performances and team dynamics.