Chelsea under coach Enzo Maresca are going through a period of conflict.
There were times when the blue team showed a playful, organized style of play, with Barcelona winning 3-0 or holding Arsenal to a draw with one less player.
However, in the last 3 matches, The Blues have not won any, losing to opponents like Leeds United or Atalanta.
These problems have led to a wave of criticism targeting Maresca, especially regarding his use of personnel in attack.
Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino believes that the biggest weakness at the moment is Joao Pedro.
In The Game, he commented: I think they have players who can score. But I'm not sure if Joao Pedro is a striker."
Joao Pedro is a type of player who likes to move widely, play deep and participate in coordination more than a typical striker. The push for him to play at the highest level left Chelsea lacking a clear support in the box.
Cascarino stressed that the problem lies not in the Brazilian's ability, but in the way he is being placed in an unsuitable role.
The match against Bournemouth was a typical example, when both Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro were blocked by the opponent. Cole Palmer has only just returned from injury and is always paired, but Pedro with less pressure still seems obscure.
Although Cascarino believes that Joao Pedro is more suitable for the role of a relegate, the personnel situation of Chelsea leaves coach Maresca with no other choice.
Liam Delap is injured, Chelsea have not called back Emanuel Emegha and there are no signs of recruiting more strikers in January.
However, the attack is not Chelsea's only concern. Cascarino also pointed out systematic instability: Every time I go see Chelsea play, for a week I think, They are a pretty good team. They are very dangerous. But after other games, I understand why they make mistakes.
I think the centre-back position is a real problem for Chelsea. They don't seem to have players who can lead the game from that area of the pitch."
