Chelsea’s season has lurched from disappointment to frustration, and their latest setback at Aston Villa was another painful reminder of their frailties.
Three consecutive defeats in all competitions have left Enzo Maresca’s side scrambling for momentum, and their home fixture against Southampton represents a crucial chance to reset.
The Blues’ defensive instability remains a pressing concern. Filip Jorgensen’s costly error at Villa Park summed up their recent struggles.
Maresca has insisted that Jorgensen remains in contention despite the mistake.
“If we need to change players every time there is a mistake, we need to change players game by game,” Maresca said.
His faith is admirable, but Chelsea’s repeated lapses in both boxes continue to undermine their efforts.
There were positives to take from the Villa defeat. Maresca described the performance as their best in recent weeks, and he is not wrong.
“The performance was there – we didn’t deserve the final result, but we need to accept that,” Maresca added. That has been the story of their season.
Southampton appear to be the perfect opposition at this moment. The Saints are winless in their last 16 league games and were thrashed 4-0 by Brighton & Hove Albion last time out.
However, Maresca has warned against complacency. “I don’t trust games – they can also be tricky,” he said. “Every team is playing for something, so they will be tough.”
Chelsea’s home form offers reason for optimism. They have won three of their last four at Stamford Bridge, scoring at least twice on each occasion.
Even in the midst of their inconsistencies, their attacking play has generally been more fluid at home.
However, the challenge is to sustain that intensity and convert dominance into results.
Christopher Nkunku, still searching for sharpness after his injury setbacks, could be pivotal. Maresca remains hopeful that his striker will rediscover his goalscoring touch, but the entire team must step up.
“We rely on Cole [Palmer] for everything, and we shouldn’t,” Maresca admitted. “We need to rely on the team.”
A top-four finish remains mathematically possible, but Chelsea cannot afford any more slip-ups. Maresca is convinced that one win could spark a turnaround. Southampton must be that win.
