Malo Gusto Shines at Chelsea but Workload Concerns Arise Amid Reece James Injury Struggles
Malo Gusto has indeed proven to be a valuable signing for Chelsea following his transfer from Lyon last year for around £30 million. With Reece James struggling to stay fit, Gusto has stepped up and filled the right-back position admirably, becoming a reliable presence in Chelsea’s backline.
Gusto’s performances have impressed both fans and the Chelsea coaching staff. According to WhoScored, he currently averages 2.6 tackles per Premier League game, the second-highest in the Chelsea squad, only behind Moises Caicedo (3.9).
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His defensive contributions have helped solidify Chelsea’s backline during a period when the team has been coping with the absence of their captain, Reece James.
However, despite Gusto’s strong form, there are concerns about his workload and the lack of adequate backup options in the right-back position.
Journalist Simon Phillips has highlighted these issues, noting that with Reece James frequently sidelined due to injuries, Gusto has had to shoulder a significant burden. Chelsea’s current backup options involve using central defenders like Axel Disasi and Wesley Fofana in the right-back position when Gusto is unavailable, which is not an ideal situation.
Josh Acheampong, an 18-year-old right-back from Chelsea’s academy, could be an option for the future, but manager Enzo Maresca might be hesitant to rely on him in high-pressure matches due to his inexperience.
With Reece James expected to return to training this week, Chelsea will be hoping that he can stay fit and share the workload with Gusto. However, given James’s injury history, there are legitimate concerns about his long-term availability. If James suffers another injury setback, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Chelsea enter the transfer market for another right-back to provide more depth and reduce the strain on Gusto.
Malo Gusto Shines at Chelsea but Workload Concerns Arise Amid Reece James Injury Struggles
