Chelsea’s 2024/25 season will be defined by 90 minutes away from home when they take on Nottingham Forest in the final Premier League game of the season.
A win will see the Blues playing Champions League football next season, and set them up in the best way possible for next week’s Conference League final against Real Betis.
Reports from the start of the season stated Enzo Maresca’s target was to achieve Champions League football, and since the campaign began that has changed from a top four to a top five finish.
Maresca’s squad selection will be key, and the big question going into the game is who will lead the line following Nicolas Jackson’s suspension.
Enzo Maresca has secret weapon to help Chelsea beat Nottingham Forest
Tyrique George took the role against Manchester United, however the physical presence of the Forest defence will see the boss wanting a natural number nine in the side.
The Italian can achieve this with a secret weapon, a player who is yet to start a Premier League game for Chelsea in Marc Guiu.
Maresca confirmed Guiu was back in training after not featuring since the start of February due to injury.
While he is yet to make his mark in the league, the Spaniard has had an impact when given the opportunity in the Conference League. He was the top scorer in the group stages of the competition.
Chelsea’s internal thoughts on Guiu
With talk continuing to go on that Chelsea are looking to sign a new striker at the end of the season, it is easy to believe that Guiu could get lost in the shuffle.
However, the Blues are big fans of the youngster. Reports have claimed that the club felt Guiu’s absence on par with Jackson’s when the pair were both injured.
It would no doubt be a risk for Maresca to hand a young player his first league start for the club in a game as important as this one, however this is the time of the season to take chances.
The Blues players will all be wanting to become a club hero, and Guiu can do that if he is handed the start on Sunday.
