Mauricio Pochettino could hold the key to Chelsea’s persistent goal-scoring woes, which have haunted the club for the past year.
Scoring has become an arduous task for the Blues, with only 38 Premier League goals recorded last season. Regrettably, the new season has brought no respite under Pochettino’s guidance.
In Chelsea’s recent encounters against Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest, they failed to find the net, securing just one point out of a potential six.
Pochettino’s August debut saw a victory against Luton Town, courtesy of Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson’s goals.
However, this followed a string of underwhelming performances, collecting a mere point and two goals from clashes against West Ham and Liverpool.
The injury setback suffered by Christopher Nkunku appears to have disrupted Chelsea’s plans, as pre-season star Jackson struggles to make an impact in competitive matches.
Although Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, and Mykhailo Mudryk possess goal-scoring potential, they have yet to be granted substantial opportunities to shine.
Meanwhile, Armando Broja is nearing a return from injury, with Pochettino offering an update on his situation while tempering expectations, stating, “Maybe we need one day more, maybe Armando Broja can be involved, maybe Sunday.
Not sure, we need to assess him tomorrow. We cannot expect Broja, if he has the possibility to play, will score with every single touch; he needs time to feel the competition and to start to perform in the way that we expect.”
While the senior team urgently requires answers to their goal-scoring woes, a long-term solution may already be in sight. Chelsea secured the services of Brazilian wonderkid Deivid Washington during the summer, an 18-year-old talent who made his first start for the club with the under-21s against Manchester City.
Washington made an immediate impact, netting an equalizer eight minutes after Man City took the lead. This was orchestrated by his pivotal contribution in setting up the goal.
However, it was Josh Brooking who emerged as the star of the show. In the dying moments of the game, the 21-year-old defender embarked on a powerful solo run from deep within his own half, ultimately finding the back of the net. His goal bore resemblance to Eden Hazard’s memorable strike against Arsenal in 2017.
Despite being naturally considered a defender, Brooking’s impressive run and finish, coupled with his precise assist, hint at his potential as an attacking player.
The possibility of deploying him as a wing-back to capitalize on his versatile strengths is indeed on the horizon.
Chelsea may have found an unexpected solution within their ranks to address their goal-scoring woes in the long term.
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