A very important player - Maresca sure of alternative attacker following Jackson's injury

A very important player - Maresca sure of alternative attacker following Jackson's injury

Hassan Abdulsalam 22:18 - 13.02.2025

Chelsea are not with their main striker Jackson.

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca is facing a challenging situation with both Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu sidelined due to hamstring injuries.

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The duo's absence has left Maresca searching for alternative attacking solutions, and he has hinted at altering his system to accommodate the changes.

Enzo Maresca
Enzo Maresca's Chelsea have been fined for their behaviour against Ipswich (Credit: Imago)

What Maresca said

"Because of Nico and Marc's situation, we are working and trying to find different solutions," Maresca said.

"Christo [Christopher Nkunku] could be one of the solutions, but it's not the only solution. It can be Christo, as he played the last game, and also different kind of players."

In the FA Cup loss to Brighton, Maresca deployed Nkunku in a central striking position, a role the French international is not accustomed to.

"I have said many times I consider Christo a very important player, and I have said since day one Christo is not a nine. Christo is an attacking midfielder, but we use him as a nine to find a solution," Maresca explained.

Nkunku's playing style differs from Jackson's, who has been a thorn in the side of Premier League defenses with his high-intensity work rate.

Enzo Maresca
Enzo Maresca Enzo Maresca has revealed Chelsea's plans for teenage defender Aaron Anselmino (Credit: Imago)

"Christo is a completely different player to Nico on and off the ball, so we probably need to adjust something because the skills of the players are different," Maresca noted.

With Nkunku not being a traditional center-forward, Maresca acknowledges that the team's approach will need to change.

"When you don't have a proper nine, you probably need to use a different kind of nine, but also you have to change a little bit the way you want to play. You cannot be direct. You need more linking because you don't have a threat in behind, but we are going to find a solution," Maresca said.

Maresca remains confident that his team will adapt and find a way to succeed despite the absence of their key strikers.

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