Surprise turned to frustration as Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea side were held to a goalless draw by Brentford on Sunday — a result that extended their winless away run to eight matches and left fans questioning their manager’s bold selection choices.
With Champions League qualification hanging in the balance, Maresca opted to rest key figures including Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, Marc Cucurella, and Pedro Neto. In their place came Malo Gusto, Christopher Nkunku, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Noni Madueke — a quartet that struggled to impose themselves.
Chelsea’s lack of firepower in the first half was glaring, registering just one shot on target before the break. The introduction of Palmer and Jackson in the second half injected urgency, with Chelsea improving to 17 shots and four on target by full-time, yet they still couldn’t find a breakthrough.
Chants of “attack, attack, attack” echoed from the away end as supporters voiced disapproval of Maresca’s cautious approach — one that has become a point of contention during the club’s inconsistent campaign.
Despite remaining in fourth place, Chelsea are now under immense pressure with Manchester City, Aston Villa, and Newcastle hot on their heels. A top-five finish may still secure Champions League football, but recent performances have cast doubt on their ability to hold on.
Maresca defended his decision, citing the short turnaround from Thursday’s match against Spurs:
“Not all of them were 100%. The plan nearly worked, but the volume probably wasn’t enough to win the game.”
When pressed on whether squad rotation could have waited for Thursday’s Conference League quarter-final against Legia Warsaw, Maresca remained firm:
“I work with the players every day. I do what’s best for the club.”
Yet Chelsea’s away form tells a concerning story. Without a win on the road since December, upcoming trips to Fulham, Newcastle, and Nottingham Forest look daunting. Their home form — five wins in a row — provides a contrast, but away-day woes could derail their European hopes.
More worryingly, Chelsea’s attacking woes persist. Palmer is on a lengthy goal drought, Jackson hasn’t scored in 10 games, and Jadon Sancho has now gone 20 matches without finding the net in all competitions.
Off the pitch, the stakes are just as high. Financial documents released earlier this week showed Chelsea posted a £128m profit — aided by the £200m internal sale of their women’s team to BlueCo, their parent company. Without it, the club would have recorded a £70m loss, flirting dangerously with the Premier League’s financial rules.
Champions League qualification is key to financial sustainability. With no shirt sponsor and mounting interest payments, the revenue from Europe’s top competition — and the appeal it offers to elite talent — has never been more important.
“Since day one, our target has been to bring this club back to the Champions League,” said Maresca. “We’ve been in the top four or five all season, and we hope to finish there.”
But with fan sentiment beginning to shift and performances on the pitch stuttering, Maresca may soon find his position under greater scrutiny — especially if results don’t follow.
As one frustrated fan summed up:
“Legia Warsaw is the match where you rest key players. What a comedown after the exciting Spurs performance.”
