“This is the Final Straw” – Didier Drogba Urges Chelsea Manager to Bench Player After Poor Performance
Chelsea legend Didier Drogba has called for immediate action following a disappointing performance in the club’s recent match, urging manager Enzo Maresca to bench a key player who struggled to make an impact, despite having an overall performance rating of 4 out of 10.
Drogba expressed his frustration, saying, “I have said this multiple times, but this is the final straw. Their performance yesterday was the last straw. He has only been a disappointment.”
Chelsea’s season under Maresca started on a challenging note, with a predictable loss to defending champions Manchester City. However, they bounced back impressively with a dominant 6-2 win over Wolves, where Noni Madueke and Cole Palmer shone. The team’s progress hit a slight setback after a disappointing 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace, a result that halted their positive momentum.
Chelsea returned to winning ways with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Bournemouth, largely thanks to a standout performance by goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, who saved a crucial penalty. Despite the victory, not all players impressed, with some underperforming in key positions.
One player who faced heavy criticism was Axel Disasi. The defender, usually a central figure, was deployed at right-back due to the absence of Reece James and Malo Gusto. Unfortunately, Disasi struggled in the unfamiliar role, failing to win any one-on-one battles, being dribbled past twice, and losing possession on several occasions. His offensive contributions were also non-existent, as he failed to deliver any crosses, complete dribbles, or create key passes. He was substituted after just 61 minutes.
On the opposite flank, new signing Pedro Neto also had a disappointing outing. Despite joining Chelsea in the summer, Neto failed to make an impact, completing only 67% of his passes and failing in all his dribbles before being substituted at halftime.
In his place, Jadon Sancho made an immediate impact, providing the assist for Christopher Nkunku’s winning goal and earning man-of-the-match honors in his Chelsea debut.
With the intense competition for attacking spots, Neto’s future at Chelsea is uncertain. After a promising start, including an assist against Wolves, he has struggled to find consistency. Madueke and Palmer are Maresca’s preferred options on the right wing, and now even Sancho’s strong debut performance threatens Neto’s place on the left.
Given the fierce competition, Drogba’s comments have sparked debate, especially regarding the need for Maresca to address underperforming players to maintain Chelsea’s push for success.