The Current Crisis
When you walk into a Chelsea match now you can hear the same question echoing from the fans: where are the goals? The Chelsea attack that looked so promising three months ago has sputtered, and the numbers tell a bleak story. Cole Palmer, who was involved in almost half of the team's 36 league goals after 16 games, has gone four outings without a direct contribution. In the nine‑match slump that followed, he managed just three goals and no assists – a far cry from his early‑season burst.
Nicolas Jackson’s decline looks even sharper. He found the net nine times in those first 16 fixtures, but the last nine games have seen him stare at the empty net despite firing a similar number of shots. His shooting accuracy plunged from an impressive 71.7% to a worrying 45.8%, turning what could have been a prolific spell into a series of missed chances.
What makes the problem puzzling is that Palmer’s chance creation has stayed roughly constant – 2.8 chances per game early on, 2.5 now. The creative engine is still humming, yet the finish line remains out of reach. In a sport where a single striker can tilt a season, the lack of clinical edge is costing the Blues vital points.
The dip in form has also exposed a tactical tension. Enzo Maresca has been rotating between a traditional 4‑3‑3 and a more fluid set‑up that places all three midfielders – Enzo Fernández, Romeo Lavia, and Moisés Caicedo – ahead of the back four. The idea is to add defensive cover while keeping attacking options open, but the experiment has not yet produced the expected goal returns.
Potential Solutions
In response, Maresca has turned the transfer market into a battlefield. The club has already secured Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens, and João Pedro, adding to the earlier arrival of Estevão Willian. Those four names give him a menu of nine attacking players if the rumored sale of Noni Madueke goes through.
- Liam Delap – physical striker with a proven goal‑scoring record in the U21 league.
- Jamie Gittens – versatile winger who can cut inside and create; his pace could stretch defences.
- João Pedro – a forward comfortable playing off the main striker, offering a third‑man‑in position.
- Estevão Willian – a young Brazilian talent with flair and an eye for the spectacular.
These signings signal a clear intent: Maresca wants depth, not a single 30‑goal hero. He’s spoken about preferring a collective firepower that can shift between formations without losing potency.
But depth alone won’t fix the finishing problem. The coaching staff has been working on shooting drills that focus on placement over power, trying to bring Jackson’s accuracy back up. Meanwhile, Palmer has been given more freedom to drift wide, hoping his dribbling can unlock tight spaces and create clearer chances for teammates.
Injury returns could also tip the balance. Romeo Lavia’s knee issue has kept him sidelined, limiting Maresca’s midfield‑to‑attack link. If Lavia regains full fitness, his ball‑carrying ability could ease the pressure on the forwards and allow the wingers to cut inside for better shooting angles.
Beyond individual fixes, there’s a strategic question about whether the club’s tactical philosophy needs a tweak. The 4‑3‑3 has offered defensive solidity, but it may be constraining the number of attackers who can get into the final third simultaneously. Some analysts suggest a return to a 3‑4‑3 in certain matches, which would free up an extra forward slot while still keeping enough cover for the back line.
Lastly, the schedule looms large. Chelsea will contest four competitions next season, including a return to the Champions League. That calendar demands rotation, and the squad depth being built now will be put to the test. If the new signings can adapt quickly, the fatigue factor that often blunts sharpness in the latter half of a season might be mitigated.
All signs point to a season that is still very much in the balance. The Blues have the talent, the money, and a manager willing to experiment. Whether injury returns and fresh legs will finally translate into goals, or if a deeper structural overhaul is needed, remains to be seen as the Premier League pushes on.