Despite securing a place in the UEFA Conference League semi-finals, Chelsea’s recent 2-1 loss at home to Legia Warsaw has raised serious concerns among fans.
While the result doesn’t eliminate them from the competition, it exposed several weaknesses within the team and highlighted the continued struggles of key players.
Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea controlled much of the match in terms of possession, holding 70% of the ball, generating an expected goals (xG) figure of 2.00, and creating five clear-cut chances from 16 total shots.
However, Legia Warsaw, with far less possession (30%), still managed to register 13 shots, four big chances, and actually edged Chelsea in xG at 2.22.
These numbers paint a picture of inefficiency and lack of killer instinct from Chelsea, particularly in the final third.
One of the few positives for the Blues came through young academy graduate Tyrique George, who made a noticeable impact after coming off the bench.
In contrast, first-team regular Cole Palmer continued his poor run of form, failing once again to live up to expectations.
The 22-year-old attacker hasn’t found the back of the net since his goal against Bournemouth back in January and looks like a shadow of the player who was once heralded for his creativity and finishing.
Against Legia, Palmer looked out of sorts — hesitant in key moments, low on confidence, and unable to provide the kind of spark Chelsea needed.
He managed just two shots, neither of which tested the goalkeeper, completed only 31 touches in his 58 minutes on the pitch, and lost possession six times.
He also won just two of five ground duels, further showing his lack of physical presence and impact.
However, if fans were worried about Palmer’s performance, even more alarm has been directed toward Christopher Nkunku.
The French forward was handed a full 90 minutes but failed to impress once again.
Despite completing 38 of his 40 passes and registering two key passes, Nkunku was mostly ineffective. He had only one shot on target and lost six possessions.
He also failed to win any of his aerial duels and made just two tackles. GOAL handed him a dismal 3/10 rating — one of the lowest on the night.
Nkunku’s lack of contribution, especially when the team was leading 3-0 on aggregate and had space to exploit, was seen by many as a deeper issue.
Throughout the season, he’s struggled to find consistency, partly due to being played out of position either as a striker or wide forward.
Despite his technical quality, he often looks disconnected from the team’s attacking rhythm.
With the summer transfer window approaching and interest reportedly growing in the 27-year-old, Chelsea may need to make a tough decision.
Offloading Nkunku could open the door for reinforcements who better fit Maresca’s tactical system — and help the team move forward with a clearer attacking identity.
