BBC pundit Alan Shearer has singled out Marc Guiu for his role in Chelsea beating Nottingham Forest 3-0 at the weekend.
The Blues could (and perhaps should) have been trailing after 45 minutes, but head coach Enzo Maresca made several changes at the break to impact the game. Shearer claims Guiu’s introduction was the most important:
“Not only did he [Maresca] bring Jamie Gittens and Moises Caicedo on to bring a bit of solidity, he brought Guiu on. You can see the difference. Joao Pedro is now predominantly playing in the 10, Guiu’s the centre-forward, he’s running in behind, and all of a sudden, it changes.”
“They’re now playing on the front foot, they’re now getting chances in the final third, Guiu’s coming short, but he’s also asking questions in behind. He makes such a clever run, again making it difficult for the Forest defence, they’re having to think again. Chelsea I think were without doubt much, much better for those changes at half-time.”
Guiu has had a difficult time
The Spaniard was loaned out to Sunderland at the start of the season, but he was recalled within weeks following Nicolas Jackson’s departure to Bayern Munich.
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Maresca has been reluctant to use Guiu since his return to Stamford Bridge, having only given him 16 minutes against Liverpool prior to Saturday’s game at the City Ground.
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Joao Pedro has had to play a lot of games due to Liam Delap’s injury, and while he isn’t playing badly by any stretch of the imagination, his goals have begun to dry up.
The midweek Champions League fixture at home may be the right time to give Pedro a breather, whilst offering Guiu a chance to start his first match of the season.
Read more about the Chelsea First Team Squad for 2025/26 here