Just five minutes into the match, a missed opportunity by Christopher Nkunku reignited debates over his form at Chelsea and his reliability in crucial moments. The 27-year-old French forward continues to battle inconsistency during the 2024-25 season, raising questions about his long-term role at the club.
The chance came early as Chelsea launched a swift attack down the left. Pedro Neto, filling in as a forward, whipped in a precise low cross that found Nkunku unmarked just six yards from goal. With Brentford’s defense flat-footed and only the keeper to beat, Nkunku looked set to score.
Instead, he swung and missed entirely, striking nothing but air—a shocking misstep for a player of his caliber. Brentford cleared the danger, and social media erupted. Hashtags like #BRECHE and #CFC trended, with one fan posting, “Nkunku with a golden opportunity… He kicks air. Sigh.” Another was more critical: “If Nkunku was just giving effort we could’ve scored. Quit loafing around.”
Nkunku, once a star at RB Leipzig with 20 league goals in 2021-22, has yet to meet expectations at Chelsea since his £52 million move in June 2023. A string of injuries and inconsistent minutes have hampered his rhythm under manager Enzo Maresca.
Even with Nicolas Jackson out due to injury, Nkunku hasn’t capitalized. He has only two Premier League goals this season, the last of which came against Southampton in February. Though he’s been productive in the UEFA Conference League—joint top scorer with five goals—his domestic form tells a different story. For instance, he failed to register a single shot in 180 minutes against Brighton earlier this year.
Speculation about his future has intensified. According to GIVEMESPORT (March 21), Nkunku may be on his way out this summer, with both the player and club uncertain about his fit. Bayern Munich remain interested, having reportedly tabled a €77 million offer in January.
Former Chelsea striker Loic Remy also weighed in, telling Plejmo.com in February that a move might benefit Nkunku, given his lack of starts and injury troubles.
Chelsea’s broader struggles this season provide a backdrop to the criticism. Though they briefly returned to the top four with a 4-0 win over Southampton, inconsistency and tactical shifts—like deploying Nkunku out wide—have drawn scrutiny.
The 1-1 draw with Brentford, sealed by a late Cole Palmer equalizer, underscored Chelsea’s continued issues in front of goal. Nkunku’s miss symbolized the larger problem and left many wondering whether he can rediscover his form—or if a Premier League exit is looming.
