With each passing day, Chelsea fans are getting closer to Christopher Nkunku’s official debut with the club.
The Frenchman, who has been out since pre-season after undergoing knee surgery, is expected to return in the weeks following November’s overseas break and will be fit to start work before the end of Calfinishar’s year, which deserves a draw. in fans. unbelievably excited.
Coach Mauricio Pochettino’s dilemma, however, is how to use Nkunku.
Nkunku rose to fame with Leipzig / Matthias Hangst/GettyImages
Chelsea list Nkunku as a striker on their website, but things are not that simple. Although he played up front for RB Leipzig, Nkunku rarely played as a full striker.
Often used in a small or large partnership with Yussuf Poulsen, Nkunku’s task is to shine and find an area where to work his magic. He’s almost like a False Nine but also like a real striker.
His appearances for France have come either alongside Olivier Giroud or as an attacking midfielder, where Nkunku himself feels he is at his best.
“I think it’s a task that suits me,” he told Football Manager of his real preferences. “I like to be close to the goal and the striker. “
Nkunku has played on the left wing on occasion, and Thomas Tuchel even started him once at right-back when he broke through at Paris Saint-Germain. Do what you want.
Nkunku and Jackson have built a relationship in the offseason/Todd Kirkland/GettyImages
Instinctively, one would think it would be putting Nkunku in the tenth role of Pochettino’s 4-2-3-1. On paper, life is easy.
The reality, however, is a bit complicated.
Blues enthusiasts are falling in love with another summer signing, Cole Palmer, whose best job has been as a striker. Palmer may line up on the right flank but plays an inverted role similar to the one perfected by Nkunku.
Conor Gallagher’s exceptional form has also seen him gain minutes in that tenth position and given that the academy graduate is arguably Chelsea’s player of the season so far, it’s hard to see him on the bench.
Perhaps Gallagher could simply move into central midfield, where his inclusion would only require Pochettino to abandon one of the £222m duo of Enzo Fernandez or Moises Caicedo. Fácil. Es’s a big deal at all. The kind of thing owners like to see investing massive sums in players.
So, does Nkunku play as a striker? Chelsea want goals and get the Bundesliga’s top scorer last season, whose 20 goals (and 15 assists) in the 2021/22 campaign were second only to Robert Lewandowski, Erling Haaland and Patrik Schick. It’s almost too smart to be true, and that’s because it is, given that Nkunku has very little experience as a lone striker.
It’s a similar debate to the one Chelsea fans have had for the past three years about Kai Havertz, who, while not exactly an appetizing prospect, deserves to be rave about again.
Pochettino has decisions to make / Alex Pantling/GettyImages
Ultimately, Gallagher’s very good functionality to the max made life more complicated for Pochettino, who now has an extra gear to insert into his machine. England’s foreigner may not be the most glamorous or valuable part of the puzzle, but he has had maximum impact and the Chelsea manager is well aware of that.
Playing Nkunku as a left winger would be fine without Palmer’s performances on the right. Playing either at the same time would leave Chelsea without a natural winger and while this is a perfectly viable tactic, it can also leave overcrowded groups in midfield.
Nkunku will therefore most likely occupy the 10th centre-forward position, leaving Gallagher further back in midfield and sending a big message to Fernandez and Caicedo that any lowering of criteria will not be tolerated.
The Frenchman is expected to play in other positions, as a striker and on the left wing, but Pochettino would be foolish to play with Nkunku at his most powerful point of attacking midfield, even if that requires rethinking when it comes to Gallagher. .
This is a real headache for Pochettino, but a welcome one.
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