Enzo Maresca has highlighted the need for Chelsea to sharpen their attacking edge, emphasizing that an improved conversion rate is crucial for the team to achieve their Premier League title aspirations. After a £160 million investment in attacking players, Maresca is looking for his new-look forward line to translate opportunities into goals.
Maresca's comments come in the wake of Chelsea's recent 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge. Despite the attacking talent on display, the Blues struggled to break down Palace's defense, a familiar sight for fans who watched the team labor to score last season.
Last season, Chelsea's attacking statistics painted a picture of missed potential. They ranked second in the Premier League for big chances missed but were only 11th in the percentage of shots that resulted in goals. Their total of 64 league goals was surpassed by teams like Brighton and Brentford, and equaled by Tottenham, who finished 17th. Champions Liverpool, in comparison, scored 22 goals more than Chelsea.
Maresca acknowledged the need for improvement, stating, "I don't know if we (now) have more capacity (to score), but for sure if we've made changes it's because we think that with changes we could improve our attacking phase". He added, "I was quite happy last year in terms of goals we scored, but with the amount of chances we created, I think we were one of the best in the league".
Chelsea have been active in the transfer market, bringing in strikers Liam Delap and Joao Pedro to revitalize their attack. Both players featured in the draw against Crystal Palace but struggled to make a significant impact. The club has also secured promising young talents like Estevao Willian from Palmeiras and Kendry Paez from Independiente del Valle for the future.
Last season, Nicolas Jackson was the team's primary striker, but he endured a lengthy goal drought. Teenager Marc Guiu also failed to find the net in the league. Both Jackson and Guiu are expected to depart Stamford Bridge, with Jackson potentially leaving permanently and Guiu on loan to Sunderland.
Chelsea had a mixed bag of results in the pre-season. They participated in the FIFA Club World Cup, even beating Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in the final. They also hosted Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan at Stamford Bridge in the VisitMalta Weekender. They won against Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 and beat AC Milan 4-1.
Looking ahead to the 2025-26 season, some are predicting Chelsea to finish third in the Premier League. Cole Palmer is expected to be a key player, with some predicting he will be the team's top scorer and player of the season. However, Liam Delap may face competition for a place in the starting eleven. The team also secured a Champions League return by finishing fourth in the league last season and also won the Conference League.
To aid their title ambitions, Chelsea will need their new attacking additions to quickly adapt and improve the team's conversion rate. With Maresca at the helm, the focus is on creating a more clinical and potent attacking force.
