Chelsea Stunned by Fulham: Gusto’s Struggles Highlight Tactical Misstep

Chelsea’s title aspirations took an unexpected hit as they fell 2-1 to Fulham at Stamford Bridge. The Blues appeared to be cruising after Cole Palmer’s superb solo goal, but a late collapse saw the visitors snatch a shock victory.

While Palmer continued his exceptional form, scoring his 12th league goal of the season, the rest of Chelsea’s attack struggled to make an impact. Jadon Sancho and Pedro Neto failed to provide adequate support, with Neto in particular culpable at both ends of the pitch.

However, it was right-back Malo Gusto who drew the most criticism for his performance. The young Frenchman struggled defensively against Antonee Robinson and offered little going forward. His failure to track back for Fulham’s winning goal was particularly glaring.

Manager Enzo Maresca’s decision not to substitute Gusto, despite his evident struggles, proved costly. With promising youngster Josh Achaempong available on the bench, many questioned why a change wasn’t made.

This defeat hands further momentum to league leaders Liverpool in the title race. Chelsea will need to quickly regroup and address their defensive frailties if they hope to stay in contention during the busy festive period.