It has been a long time since a Chelsea striker was as much of a nuisance as Marc Guiu.
Another pre-season match, another eyebrow-raising performance from the 18-year-old centre-forward, who joined the Blues from Barcelona for £5.1million last month.
Guiu started as the lone striker on Sunday, as Enzo Maresca trialled a 4-3-3 system against Inter Milan in their last pre-season friendly before the Premier League kicks off next weekend. The Blues would eventually earn a last-gasp 1-1 draw, Lesley Ugochukwu’s equaliser arriving just seconds before the final whistle.
To watch a 6ft 2ins striker yet to leave his teenage years behind is so often to witness a gangly figure, yet to bulk out and yet to offer a physical presence. Not so from Guiu.
Instead, the Spain Under-19 striker bullied Inter’s three centre-backs, holding off the particularly robust challenges of Francesco Acerbi, who played in between Carlos Augusto and Yann Bisseck. Acerbi specifically targeted Guiu, yet the Spaniard regularly peeled off his shoulder and arched his back to hold up play.
Guiu showed his striking instinct in the box, too. First, his downward volley from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s lay-off needing tipping over the bar masterfully by Yann Sommer. Later came smart improvisation, as Guiu diverted Marc Cucurella’s poor effort goalwards. Both chances could easily have gone in.
Instead, Marcus Thuram thumped home the opener on 26 minutes. It took until the 90th for Chelsea to grapple their way back, Ugochukwu’s leveller richly deserved in an encouraging performance from new boss Maresca’s side.
For Guiu, this has been an extremely positive pre-season. His bright performance was one of the only silver linings when the Blues were thrashed 4-1 by Celtic in Indiana on July 27. He then found the net with a smart, front-post header in the 3-0 win over Club America on August 1 in Atlanta.
Chelsea’s move to sign 20-year-old Atletico Madrid striker Samu Omorodion may have broken down, but the Blues continue to monitor the situation of long-term target Victor Osimhen. A player-plus-cash deal, where Romelu Lukaku heads in the opposite direction to Napoli, is being considered.
The plan for Guiu this season was, therefore, to send him on loan, perhaps to a Championship side.
The Blues, under Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, have made a number of peculiar decisions when it comes to personnel during their time in charge, but keeping Guiu would appear a sensible decision when reacting to recent events, notably, Omorodion’s failed move and Guiu’s superb displays.
Chelsea could do worse than to trust the form guy
With Nicolas Jackson also in the fray up front, game time could be limited for Guiu — if Osimhen signs, even more so — but Chelsea could do worse than to trust the form guy.
Guiu’s performances in the early weeks of the Maresca regime should count for something. He pressed intently, held the ball up and almost found the net against the Italian champions.
The decision now lies with the board and his manager, but Guiu at least knows he has fulfilled his part of the bargain.
