Chelsea's next Jadon Sancho call can unlock Cole Palmer in dream scenario vs West Ham
It's been a slow, but steady start to the campaign for Enzo Maresca's Chelsea having taken seven points from the opening 12 available to them. The Blues' only defeat of the campaign came in their opening day clash with Manchester City and since then, have gone unbeaten.
Chelsea shot a blank during that clash with Pep Guardiola's side, with last season's talisman - Cole Palmer - quiet by his usual standards, with some people suggesting he was marked out of the game against his former club. It's perhaps understandable given his short break after international duty with England this summer, but then again, a week later he scored and grabbed a hat-trick of assists during the 6-2 win over Wolves at Molineux.
Maresca's squad has changed a fair bit since the opening game of the season against City and the arrival of Jadon Sancho has had a positive impact so far. The former Manchester United winger looked lively against Bournemouth and could make his starting debut in Saturday's clash with the Hammers.
With Sancho on the left, it would allow Palmer to move centrally into the number ten role. The two England internationals operates incredibly well in between the lines and playing together should, in theory, give defenders plenty more to think about.
Sancho's trickery - when he's at his best - is almost unmatched and we just didn't see enough of that during his time at Manchester United. His two stints with Borussia Dortmund have shown there's a player in there capable of playing at the highest level, now, it's time for him to do it at Chelsea.
"I said last week - since he arrived here, he is working hard, working good, on and off the ball," Maresca said when asked about Sancho's work ethic ahead of the clash with West Ham - something which came into question during his time at Old Trafford under Erik Ten Hag. "We used the international break to focus a little bit more on him. He is doing good."
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Maresca's pre-match press conference shone a light on how Chelsea could line-up this weekend, hinting at an enticing attack. He said: "As a left winger, we have Jadon and Misha. As a right winger, we have Noni and Pedro. As an attacking midfielder, we have Joao [Felix] and Cole [Palmer]. As a No.9, we have Nicolas and Christo [Nkunku].
"We have two players in each position. Now, Christo can play as a nine, an attacking midfielder or as a winger. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall can play in the pocket and can play wide.
"Pedro was playing as a left winger because Jadon was not here, was not fit, and Misha; between him, Jadon and Pedro, I preferred Pedro for that game. But that doesn't mean I will always prefer Pedro.
"The squad is quite clear in terms of position. All of them have positions and we have two players in each position. Now, because they are versatile, for sure, we can move them. Christo played the first game against City as a winger."