Sky Sports have started the week looking back at the weekend’s results, and of course Chelsea’s game against Liverpool is top of the list. Former Spurs defender Michael Dawson gave his view on the game and the Blues’ progress as a whole, with a particular focus on the individual improvements to players like Nicolas Jackson up top and how that’s helped us reach a new level:
“I think when you see the way they play in the attacking third. I mean, Cole Palmer… he just picks up the ball and creates chances, and Nicolas Jackson is in good form. People last year said they create chances but don’t take them. But he is at the moment.”
You can see the former Spurs defender speaking in the clip embedded here:
“They’ve had a very good start under [Enzo] Maresca” 👏
Michael Dawson says Chelsea have had a positive start to the season ✅ pic.twitter.com/M8aBhyDEjn
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 22, 2024
Keeping steady with Jackson a sign of bravery from Maresca – or stupidity?
Dawson picked out another specific thing the new coach is doing which he thinks is worth of praise:
“One thing I do like that Maresca has done – and I know he made changes at the weekend – is that he’s not making loads of changes week in, week out. Because he’s got so many players to pick from so it must be hard.”
It must be especially difficult in the case of Jackson because the striker has Christopher Nkunku breathing down his neck. The Frenchman is certainly the most talented player in terms of ability to not be getting in the team right now, so Maresca is showing great restrain to not tinker to try to get him in, and he deserves credit for that.
Unless, of course, you’re in the camp who thinks he’s making a mistake not getting Nkunku in, of course…
