Maresca faces a key choice: Who will lead Chelsea s forward line

This game is regarded as the most important game since Enzo Maresca coached Chelsea. Since he took over the team, the club's goal has been very clear: to return to the top European arena. Now, this goal has entered the final sprint stage.

Although there is no sign that Maresca will be fired after the end of the season, the pressure remains huge. Facing the tough toughness of Nottingham Forest, especially their solid central defender combination composed of Nikola Mirenkovic and Murillo, Maresca must make the most appropriate tactical arrangements and personnel choices. The most critical problem is who will serve as the starting center.

Chelsea is currently facing a serious striker crisis. Main shooter Nicholas Jackson missed the game due to a red card suspension, and Tyrek George's attempts against Manchester United failed to achieve the expected results. This puts the coaching staff in a dilemma in their offensive choices.

Many people suggested that Christopher Nkunku, who had just recovered from injury, should not take the risk of starting the game, but wait patiently for the return of Spanish teenager Mark Giu. The young forward has been out of the game with injuries since February, but according to Maresca, he has gradually resumed training and is expected to appear on the roster for the next game.

Jiu showed strong goalscoring ability in a healthy state, especially in the UEFA qualifiers, where he was awarded the top scorer of the tournament for efficient performance. His return is believed to inject much-needed sharpness into Chelsea's offense, bringing tactical options that are more in line with the current system.

In fact, Chelsea's offense was already in trouble as early as early 2025. At that time, Jackson and Jiwu were both seriously injured in the same game, resulting in the team's long-term lack of a real center. This structural lack is considered to be one of the important reasons for the team's performance fluctuations.

Although Jackson's absence is regrettable, the coaching staff still has high expectations for Jiwu. Not only does he have excellent figure and technical conditions, he can effectively deal with the physical confrontation of the Forests defenders, he also has good ball control and tandem ability, and is an ideal candidate to crack dense defense.

For Chelsea, this match against Nottingham Forest is not only the final battle of the season, but also a key battle to determine whether it can lock in the Champions League qualification. A victory can not only bring a positive end to this challenging season, but also create good momentum for the upcoming summer transfer window.

Enzo Maresca and Mark Giu may become the core figures in turning the situation around together. If they successfully lead the team through this difficulty, it will not only be a turning point in the club's season fate, but it may also be an important milestone in Maresca's coaching career.