Christopher Nkunku came under heavy criticism after Chelsea’s lackluster FA Cup defeat to Brighton, with former player Craig Burley labeling him a “total waste of money.”
Despite taking an early lead thanks to a goalkeeping blunder from Bart Verbruggen, Chelsea was eliminated in the fourth round after goals from Georginio Rutter and Kaoru Mitoma. The defeat adds to the Blues’ struggles, with only three wins in their last ten matches across all competitions.
Maresca fielded a strong lineup, but Chelsea’s performance was uninspiring, registering just two shots on target throughout the entire match. With Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu sidelined by injuries, Nkunku was given a rare start leading the attack. However, the 27-year-old failed to impress, continuing his underwhelming form since joining Chelsea.
Nkunku, who has started just three Premier League matches this season, was rumored to be leaving in January. After watching his latest display, Burley believes he has done little to prove he deserves more opportunities.
“There was no cutting edge,” Burley told ESPN. “Palmer isn’t influencing games like before. Nkunku up front—what a total waste of money he’s been. And defensively, they’re looking fragile.”
Burley also criticized Chelsea’s overall style of play, comparing it to previous failed managerial eras.
“They’ve slipped back into this slow, pedestrian passing game from the Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, and Thomas Tuchel days,” he said. “They had 57% possession—way more than Brighton—but did absolutely nothing with it.”
While Chelsea remains in the race for a top-four finish, Burley warned that Maresca’s job could be at risk if results don’t improve.
“This ownership makes rash decisions,” he added. “They were happy from summer to Christmas, but if performances like this continue and they start slipping down the table, Maresca could be in trouble. Chelsea won’t give him two or three years like Arsenal did with Arteta.”
Speaking after the match, Maresca admitted Chelsea struggled without Jackson but remained hopeful about the striker’s return for their next league fixture on Friday.
“Sometimes you need to play without a player to realize how important they are,” he said. “Nico is crucial both on and off the ball. His pressing is excellent, and he’s always a threat.”
Despite the disappointing FA Cup exit, Maresca urged his team to shift focus.
“If there’s one positive after a defeat, it’s that we can now concentrate on the Premier League and Conference League,” he concluded.