
Chelsea fans have been left scratching their heads over how Marc Guiu’s season has unfolded.
The 19-year-old forward signed a season-long loan deal with Sunderland in August, but after only three appearances, Chelsea brought him back following an injury to Liam Delap.
Guiu was praised for his professionalism upon returning to Chelsea, but it is hard to imagine he is not frustrated by the lack of minutes. Since returning, he has not seen any game time for the Blues.
If the Spaniard plays for Chelsea this January, FIFA regulations will prevent him from being loaned out again this season, due to the rule limiting players to two clubs per year.
During his pre-match press conference on Friday, ahead of Saturday’s match against Liverpool, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca shared a positive update on Marc Guiu.
Maresca pointed out that the former Barcelona striker has caught his attention during training this week and went on to say that he will soon be given chances to play.
“Marc is working well. This week, he has worked very, very good; much better compared to the first weeks when he came back. For sure, he’s going to get minutes with us. He’s going to play games,” the Italian coach said.
Maresca has confirmed that Guiu will soon play for Chelsea, despite earlier speculation that the striker might be loaned out in January. So, getting him on the pitch would put an end to questions about his future.
The Spaniard managed six goals in 16 appearances last season under Maresca and showed he can offer something different up front. It now falls on the manager to follow through and give him a proper run in the side this time around.
If he is fit and available, there is every reason for Guiu to feature in this weekend’s match against Liverpool. His good form in training over the past week only strengthens his case for selection.
While he is still developing as a player, his ability to stretch defences and make intelligent runs gives him an edge over some of the other options.
Having Guiu up top would allow Joao Pedro to play in a deeper role where he has been more effective. It appears a better option than relying on Tyrique George, who has not looked comfortable playing through the middle.
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