Enzo Maresca needs to start trusting ‘promising’ Chelsea player much more, Joe Cole has tipped him to reach the top

Add as preferred source on Google

For the first real time this season, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is beginning to receive some questions and criticism.

Enzo Maresca has enjoyed a very strong start to life as the Chelsea manager since he took charge in the summer.

However, the Blues hit a bump in the road during the festive period by picking up one point from Premier League games against Everton, Fulham and Ipswich Town. It means they’ve gone from title contenders to top-four challengers in the space of a couple of weeks.

Maresca explained Chelsea can be much better after losing 2-0 away to Ipswich earlier this week.

All eyes will be on the team to see if they respond on Saturday when they travel to Crystal Palace in the league for their first match of 2025.

• READ MORE: Chelsea have just done something for the first time under Enzo Maresca after Ipswich defeat

Enzo Maresca needs to start trusting Marc Guiu

For Maresca to help get Chelsea back on track, he may need to be a little braver with some of his tactical decisions.

The one thing we’d love to see in 2025 is Maresca putting some more faith in Blues striker Marc Guiu.

At the age of 18, Guiu is an exciting Chelsea youngster with so much raw potential. The way he’s been managed in the first half of the season has made sense for his development, but it’s time to start trusting him more often.

The Spanish centre-forward has scored six goals in six games during the Conference League group stages, where he’s shown all the instincts and traits of a proper No.9.

However, Guiu simply isn’t trusted in the Premier League and largely watches from the bench. In fact, his one and only league appearance this season came on the opening day with a second-half cameo versus Manchester City.

Maresca wants to keep Guiu at Chelsea in the January transfer window, and that’s obviously a positive sign. But he’s got to start using him in league matches because he’s got the right profile to be a very dangerous substitute and alternative to Nicolas Jackson in the striker position.

We’re not saying Guiu is suddenly knocking on the door to start league matches for the Blues, but he’s harshly overlooked every single time when he could be a useful option. If you’re an opposition defence, you certainly wouldn’t enjoying a fresh and energetic Guiu chasing you down for the final 10 minutes.

Marc Cucurella claims Chelsea’s Guiu has a “promising future”. We’ve seen in Europe that the tenacious youngster can contribute to the first team in the present.

Joe Cole verdict on Marc Guiu should wake Chelsea up

If Chelsea want another reminder of Guiu’s talent and potential, they should look back at what former Blues star Joe Cole said last month.

Joe Cole tipped Chelsea’s Guiu for a huge future after watching his hat-trick against Shamrock Rovers in December. He said: “I think he (Guiu) can go all the way. I think Barcelona have made a mistake.”

It’s pretty obvious now that Christopher Nkunku struggles playing the No.9 role whenever he leads the line. If he’s on the pitch, he should be where he’s much more comfortable in a No.10 or wide role.

Jackson feels like a guarantee to lead the line most weeks as his excellent campaign continues, but Guiu could be the secret back-up option right under Maresca’s nose.