Chelsea Faces Champions League Challenge After Nicolas Jackson Suspension

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca is facing challenges as striker Nicolas Jackson will miss the final two Premier League games due to a red card suspension for elbowing an opponent. This absence exposes Chelsea's lack of alternative goal-scoring options, with the only other senior striker, Marc Guiu, injured and yet to score in the league. Despite spending over £1 billion in recent seasons, the club has struggled to secure a reliable goalscorer, forcing Maresca to consider deploying wingers or other players in the striker role. Chelsea currently sit fifth and need victories in their final two matches to secure Champions League qualification, a target Maresca regards as a positive achievement given the season's challenges. The team also leads the Premier League in yellow cards, indicating a disciplinary problem that Maresca plans to review over the summer. While Jackson's temperament and disciplinary record have been questioned, Maresca believes the striker is mature and capable of learning from his mistakes as the club continues to rely on him in the lead role.