Chelsea have two more games to play a £1 billion transfer gamble. And they will have to do it without a striker.
Many are arguing whether the Blues' ill-advised transfers or Nicolas Jackson's red card are the main reasons for their difficult situation.
However, in any case, Chelsea's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League are very slim. Chelsea will be without a striker for the two most important matches of the season.
Before the 0-2 loss to Newcastle at St James' Park, Chelsea had revived strongly with 3 consecutive victories in the Premier League. This series of results has helped The Blues return to the top 5 of the rankings.
However, with fierce competition, just a stumble would make it difficult for Maresca's team. And this prospect has occurred.
Jackson's reckless moment in the first half when using his elbow to hit Newcastle defender Sven Botman in the face, caused the 23-year-old player to receive a red card.
Chelsea were behind at the time after Sandro Tonali opened the scoring in the second minute for Newcastle. Therefore, Jackson's dismissal makes their chances of getting at least 1 point fragile.
"I haven't spoken to Nicolas Jackson, it's not the right time. But I will talk to him in the coming days. His season with us is over.
He is our number 9, our striker, so we have to find a solution for the next matches. What you should avoid is things like this, but it has happened. Jackson is out for the rest of the season and I hope he can learn from it in the future," Maresca said after the defeat to Newcastle.
If Jackson were on the pitch in the second half, when Chelsea controlled the ball well, he would be capable of scoring an equalizer to bring home an important point. But Chelsea were helpless and that was the problem they had to overcome in their final two games, at home to Manchester United and away to Nottingham Forest.
Jackson's red card hurt The Blues in the decisive phase of the season. However, the deeper problem is Chelsea's wasteful spending, up to more than 1 billion pounds, but there is still no real striker.
When Maresca chose the squad to face Man United at Stamford Bridge this weekend, he will be without Jackson - who started a 3-match suspension due to a red card. Meanwhile, Christopher Nkunku, Marc Guiu, Mykhailo Mudryk and Jadon Sancho are also unable to play for various reasons.
In fact, Jackson is a striker but not a true striker. Jackson's 1-0 win over Everton last month was his 10th Premier League goal of the season. However, this was only his first goal since mid-December last year.
Chelsea will not remember Jackson's goals in the last two matches, but they will remember his presence as a highlight on the pitch.
The burden of scoring could fall on Cole Palmer, who has scored 15 goals in 35 Premier League appearances this season. But it has been 20 games since he last scored from open play in all competitions for the Blues. Last week's penalty kick against Liverpool was Palmer's first goal since the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on 14 January.
Palmer could become a Chelsea hero, but they are now on a wire for the next two games. Maresca's side will need at least four points, and possibly six, from their final two games to reach the top five.
Without a striker, it would be a difficult challenge. But as Manchester City's surprise 0-0 draw with bottom-placed Southampton showed, no result can be considered a certain one at this stage of the season.
Even Newcastle, who have risen to third place with 66 points after the win over Chelsea, are still worried about looking back in the race for Champions League qualification. They will travel to Arsenal next Sunday knowing that both Chelsea and Aston Villa can balance their scores. Of course, Newcastle now have the advantage because they have defeated Chelsea.
If they don't win at least one of their remaining matches, Chelsea will find it difficult to finish in the top 5. If that happens, their £1 billion spending would be confusing like a damaging red card to Jackson.
