Enzo Maresca, in a tense press conference ahead of the game against Fulham, expressed concern over Chelsea's slipping Champions League chances following recent poor results in the Premier League and a loss to Legia Warsaw in the Conference League. The coach highlighted the significant drop in scoring form from top attackers Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson, stating that their failure to score poses a major obstacle to achieving the season's targets.
When asked directly if Chelsea can succeed without Palmer and Jackson finding form, Maresca bluntly responded with a simple "No," indicating the critical importance of their goal-scoring contributions. While expressing confidence in the players' ability to regain form based on past performances, Maresca's explanations lacked conviction, with injuries and physical recovery cited as contributing factors. However, critics point out that the players' goal drought began before their injuries, casting doubt on the coach's optimistic outlook for their return to top form.