Chelsea were able to have a successful 2024/25 campaign thanks to the likes of Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer.
Palmer’s form dipped in the second half of the season, but the attacking midfielder still contributed a lot to Chelsea‘s success.
For example, Palmer helped Chelsea to win the Conference League after producing two assists in the final.
However, not everyone performed in that game or had a productive 2024/25 campaign.
Malo Gusto prepares to take a throw in as Chelsea take on Djurgarden
Photo by Molly Darlington – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Scott Minto has sympathy for Malo Gusto
Malo Gusto really struggled in the Blues’ clash against Real Betis, before being taken off at half-time.
The defender’s campaign as a whole was quite disappointing, while he recently gave away a penalty in Chelsea’s 4-1 victory over Benfica in the Club World Cup.
Minto now feels sorry for Gusto, saying on talkSPORT: “The penalty, as contentious as it was, probably to the letter of the law is the right decision. But it’s not an understanding of how people can jump, so I do feel sorry for Malo Gusto, really, because he’s going through a bad time at the moment.”
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Bayern Munich were being linked with Gusto, but that has now quietened down. If the full-back does leave Stamford Bridge this summer, Enzo Maresca can use Josh Acheampong as a back-up option to Reece James.
While Acheampong is still a youngster trying to establish himself at Chelsea, the 19-year-old will still be disappointed with his lack of appearances at the Club World Cup.
He has played just one game so far, though it was the full 90 minutes against Esperance Sportive de Tunis.
Malo Gusto, Tosin Adarabioyo and Axel Disasi of Chelsea line up prior to kick-off ahead of the Premier League match
Photo by Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Why Malo Gusto is struggling so much under Enzo Maresca
Gusto is a right-back who is great at taking the ball down the flank before putting crosses into the box. It is how he got so many assists in his first season at Chelsea.
Under Maresca, though, he has not had too many opportunities to do that. The Frenchman has had to play as an inverted full-back, coming into midfield to try and help Chelsea maintain possession before finding an opening. So far, though, it is not an experiment that has worked.
If that is how Maresca plans to use Gusto going forward, Chelsea would be better off selling him and using someone who is more suited to the role like Acheampong.