The chill April air at the Gtech Community Stadium carried an extra bite for Christopher Nkunku on Sunday afternoon. It wasn’t just the disappointing stalemate against Brentford; it was the unmistakable sound of his own supporters cheering when his number flashed on the fourth official’s board at halftime. A harsh reality for a player who arrived at Chelsea with so much promise, a £52 million beacon of attacking flair just under two years ago.
Manager Enzo Maresca, clearly seeking a spark after a tepid first-half display, opted for a drastic reshuffle. Five changes were made to the lineup that had secured a hard-fought victory against Tottenham a mere 72 hours prior. With a crucial Conference League quarter-final first leg against Legia Warsaw looming, it felt like a calculated risk. Yet, on this particular afternoon in west London, the gamble backfired, leaving Chelsea looking disjointed and lacking their usual vibrancy.
Nkunku, deployed in the central striker role, became a lightning rod for the team’s struggles. Possession seemed to elude him with frustrating regularity – a stray pass here, a heavy touch there. Nothing quite stuck, and his half-time substitution felt less like a tactical tweak and more like an inevitable consequence of his underwhelming performance.
Beyond the tangible errors, there was a perceived lack of urgency off the ball. Whispers of Nkunku’s supposed reluctance to press have lingered, and against Brentford, those concerns appeared to manifest. He rarely harried the opposition’s backline, a passivity that visibly frustrated the Chelsea faithful. There’s a tolerance for a player having an off day, but a perceived lack of effort is a different transgression altogether in the eyes of passionate supporters.
Maresca, ever the diplomat, offered a measured defense of his player. “No, I think it’s just a game,” he stated when questioned about Nkunku’s application. “I don’t think it’s a lack of effort because at the end I can see Christo every day and he’s working well. Sometimes probably he wants to give more during a game and he struggles a little bit, but for sure I don’t think it’s a lack of effort.”
The introduction of Nicolas Jackson in Nkunku’s place was met with a noticeable cheer from the away end – a mixture of appreciation for the Senegalese forward and perhaps a pointed reaction to Nkunku’s exit. The impact was immediate. Chelsea, who had mustered a paltry four shots in the first half (only one on target), suddenly found a renewed attacking impetus. They unleashed 17 shots in the second period, forcing the Brentford goalkeeper into action on four occasions.
Jackson’s directness and willingness to run the channels provided a different dimension to Chelsea’s attack, seemingly more aligned with Maresca’s tactical blueprint. While Jackson’s positive influence was undeniable, the stark contrast only amplified the questions surrounding Nkunku’s role and effectiveness within the team.
Astonishingly, nearly two years after his high-profile arrival, Nkunku’s best position and consistent contribution to Chelsea remain an enigma. While he showcased his quality against weaker opposition in the Conference League group stages, his Premier League form, particularly in 2025, has been patchy. This inconsistency raises significant questions as Chelsea approach the summer transfer window, facing a crucial decision regarding the Frenchman’s future.
With the club reportedly looking to bolster their attacking options further in the summer, the puzzle of where Nkunku fits becomes even more complex. Could he be a casualty of a tactical reshuffle or a change in transfer strategy? Chelsea were hesitant to let him depart during the January window despite considerable interest, but the landscape could shift dramatically in the coming months.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if Sunday’s outing proves to be Nkunku’s last Premier League start of the season. Jackson’s return offers a welcome boost, and Chelsea will be desperate for him to rediscover his scoring touch. Their immediate focus shifts to a home clash against Ipswich Town, a welcome return to Stamford Bridge considering their alarming away form in 2025.
Chelsea are currently enduring an eight-game winless streak away from their SW6 home in the league. This concerning trend casts a shadow over their aspirations of securing a top-five finish and Champions League qualification for the 2025/26 campaign. “I think we start the season winning away many games,” Maresca reflected on their away woes. “We won away games and we struggled a little bit at home. Now it’s the other way. I think to get top four, top five or fight for the title you need the right balance. Probably, as you said, in this moment we struggle a little bit more to win games away.”
Ultimately, the draw against Brentford felt like a missed opportunity for Chelsea to solidify their top-five credentials. While the quick turnaround between fixtures offers a degree of mitigation, the performance, and particularly the treatment of Nkunku, leaves a lingering sense of unease and uncertainty as the season enters its crucial final stretch. The questions surrounding Nkunku’s role are no closer to being answered, and for a player of his caliber, that silence speaks volumes.
