3 weeks ago
18
7th on list
©TM/IMAGO
One of the biggest surprises in Chelsea's system since Enzo Maresca's appointment has been the use of Malo Gusto in an hybrid defensive-attacking role. The Frenchman's athleticism allows him to gallop up and down the pitch at an impressive speed, and his seemingly limitless stamina enables him to do it for the best part of 90 minutes. But the decision to deploy the versatile defender in the final third has sparked some curiosity amongst Chelsea fans, given that Gusto is yet to score a senior goal in his 155 career appearances (*excluding 19 appearances and two goals for Lyon's B team).
Explaining his thinking back in November 2024, Maresca said: "We think with Malo there playing as a 10 we can cause problems to the opponent. He is doing fantastic. Malo is helping us a lot in terms of process because he is playing as a holding midfielder, he is playing in the pocket, he is playing at some moments as a central midfielder. For sure Malo is doing well and he is going to continue in that way."
The 22-year-old, who joined the Blues from Olympique Lyon for €25 million in January 2023, has appeared 94 times for the Blues, with 65 of those outings coming in the Premier League. He has conjured eight assists for the west London club, but despite his best efforts, Gusto has never celebrated a goal at senior level. This season alone, he appears to be making a concerted effort to end his dry spell with 11 shots on goal in all competitions but still hasn't seen the net bustle in his favour. However, he is not alone in failing to end his long wait for a goal - far from it.
Indeed, Gusto's 118 top-flight appearances with Chelsea and Lyon in the top-five European leagues - the Bundesliga, LaLiga, Ligue 1, Premier League and Serie A - only puts him seventh on the current list of players who have failed to register a single goal. The crown currently belongs to Abdoulaye Bamba, who has featured for Angers and Dijon in France and is on a run of 154 games without scoring. Liverpool stalwart Joe Gomez is next in second with 151, while West Ham loanee Igor Julio is in third on 142. Fulham left-back Antonee Robinson was one of the top creators in the Premier League in 2024/25 with 10 assists, but the USA international has managed to go 139 appearances without netting for the Cottagers.
LaLiga pair Juan Cruz and Aihen Muñoz - of Osasuna and Real Sociedad respectively - follow Robinson with 134 and 132, before Gusto comes in at No.7. The four-club Serie A man Sebastian Walukiewicz is on a 114-game goalless run for Sassuolo and Matteo Ruggeri, a new signing for Atlético Madrid this summer, joins him on 105. Lecce's Antonino Gallo rounds off the top 10 and Bologna's Jhon Lucumí is the only other player to reach a century. Alex Kral, briefly of West Ham and now at Union Berlin, is 12th on the list with 94 appearances and no goals. Wales international Ethan Ampadu has played for five clubs in three different top-five leagues, including RB Leipzig, Venezia and now Leeds United. But Gusto's former dressing room companion is still waiting for that elusive first goal with 94 games under his belt.
Returning from the international break with France's senior team, Gusto is likely to play some part as Chelsea face Nottingham Forest on Saturday - and few players will be motivated to get their name on the scoresheet more than him.
