Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is not having it with his attacking duo Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer this season, MySportDab reports.
The former Man City assistant boss has enjoyed a stellar debut spell with the Blues this season. He has led the club to a strong position to challenge for the top five with a few games left in the campaign.
Notably, Maresca’s charges haven’t disappointed the Italian with their improved performance.this season. However, he has some exceptions to attacking duo – Palmer and Jackson – who have fallen his hands in the squad.
Compared to his last season’s heroics for the Blues, Cole Palmer is miles away from his best. He has 14 goals plus eight assists in 32 Premier League appearances and has struggled for form lately.
The same plight has befallen Nicolas Jackson. The Senegalese forward has scored nine goals plus five assists in 27 Premier League appearances and has struggled with underwhelming performances as well.
Addressing the duo’s dip in form, Maresca seem to apportion the blame to the players for falling below expectations.
On Cole Palmer’s struggles, he attributed the dip to mental fatigue, adding that the English midfielder has no excuse as he is playing in the same team, same manager, and same football pattern.
“For sure, it’s mental. I don’t think it’s tactical. I don’t think it’s technical. The style of football is the same. The manager is the same. The club is the same,” he said as quoted by Fabrizio Romano.
On Nicolas Jackson, Maresca made reference to the club’s tradition of replacing under-performing players with promising youngsters, adding that Tyrique George has emerged as better alternative for the forward.
“Years ago… Drogba was here and the manager changed Drogba who was on the bench. Fernando Torres? I don’t know. I don’t remember”.
“Now we change Nico with Tyrique from the academy. You see that? I see that…” Fabrizio Romano quotes.
Maresca’s statement on Nico and Palmer underscores his resolve to fearlessly restructure his squad and phase out underperforming players, thus sending a message for the duo to up their game.
