I’ve noticed some folks are quick to write off Malo Gusto, but I’m holding back on the judgment for now.
Think about Marc Cucurella for a moment. He wasn’t exactly a fan favorite at Stamford Bridge until he turned things around and became a sort of cult hero. Gusto seems to be in the middle of a similar slump. A lot of fans have already lost hope, but I’m not ready to throw in the towel just yet.
Let’s not forget how impressive Gusto was when he first joined the club. It wasn’t that long ago people were wondering if he should start over Reece James. That’s a testament to the level he was playing at initially.
That said, there’s no sugarcoating it—this season has been rough for Gusto. His performance has been far from stellar, and it’s clear he needs to make some serious improvements. However, I’m convinced that he’s capable of bouncing back. We’ve seen plenty of players go through rough patches before, and this could just be one of those dips in form that happens to any athlete.
Though he’s considered young, Gusto is edging closer to 22, so he’s no longer a fresh-faced teenager. It’s time for him to raise his game.
I’m a bit baffled by the decision to play him in the midfield. It’s not doing him any favors, and Enzo Maresca, as head coach, should be recognizing this. It’s puzzling why the coach keeps slotting him into that position.
Gusto has been with Chelsea since 2023 and has already shown that he’s got what it takes to be a first-rate right back. Back when he joined, several top clubs had their eyes on him. So let’s play him in his natural position and let him shine there. Enough with trying to fit a square peg in a round hole—there’s no need to see him as a left back. If the team needs more left backs, then go out and get one!
While it’s fair to criticize his current form, I’m not losing faith in Gusto just yet. He’s shown enough promise to earn a bit more patience, and I believe he can get back to his best soon.
