(Credit: Imago)

Jack Heath

Tue 30 September 2025 14:00, UK

Chelsea are slowly running Joao Pedro into the ground following a lack of depth upfront in the absence of Liam Delap.

Enzo Maresca’s side were embarrassed on 27 September as Pedro Neto was berated by Chelsea fans in their defeat to Brighton.

The Blues lost 3-1 and completely collapsed after Trevoh Chalobah was sent off early in the second half, weakening the defence even more for the coming weeks.

Sources told Football Insider on 29 September that Chelsea are targeting a centre-back in the January transfer window with the club in desperate need to bolster the position.

Maresca is coming under serious pressure at Chelsea and the upcoming Champions League tie offers a major opportunity to rest some of his exhausted stars including Pedro.

Joao Pedro on fire but the Chelsea blue flame could soon sizzle out

The Italian manager described the Brazilian as a player who “can solve situations and problems in games” with his all-round technical ability (Chelsea FC, 27 September).

The 24-year-old has already grabbed two goals and three assist in six Premier League matches but the injury to Delap has forced Maresca to utilise him perhaps more than he originally wanted.

This has seen Pedro be thrown into fixtures not at 100 per cent fitness levels and could lead to the same abhorrent outcome as Cole Palmer with his lengthy expected injury absence for Chelsea after being played too soon against Man United.

When looking at the South American’s absence record, the Blues need to be wary of not reducing him to a walking injury waiting to happen.

The attacker has missed 48 games throughout his career with a reoccurring ankle issue making up a third of his time on the sidelines.

Maresca must be extremely cautious to not overwork the former Watford wonderkid as he could end up with a player plagued by injuries.

Therefore, the Blues must turn to Marc Guiu to spearhead the attack in the Champions League in order to preserve their precious number 20.

Marc Guiu could be the answer to Enzo Maresca’s problems

Step forward the Spaniard who, although just 19-years-old, possesses a marvelous track record of dazzling on the European stage.

In the 2024-25 Conference League winning run, Guiu racked up six goals in nine appearances, scoring every 69 minutes on average.

Moreover, the number 38 has briefly experienced the heights of the Champions League, notching once in two appearances for Barcelona in the 2023-24 campaign.

This highlights a striker who is playing way beyond his years and is more than capable of leading the Chelsea front line against Benfica on 30 September.

Recalled from a three-match loan spell with Sunderland, Guiu will not be wanting to simply settle to be a benchwarmer.

The Blaugrana academy graduate must be unleashed and if Maresca denies him this opportunity he is only hurting his longevity as the Blues boss as well as damaging Pedro’s fitness in the long-run.