Ranked 7th on the list
One of the most unexpected developments in Chelsea’s strategy since the appointment of Enzo Maresca has been Malo Gusto’s utilization in a hybrid role that merges defensive and attacking duties. The French player’s remarkable athleticism enables him to cover the pitch rapidly, and his seemingly endless stamina allows him to maintain this pace for nearly the entire match. However, the choice to deploy this flexible defender in attacking positions has left some Chelsea fans intrigued, particularly considering Gusto has yet to find the back of the net in his 155 career appearances (not counting 19 appearances and two goals for Lyon’s reserve team).
Reflecting on his reasoning in November 2024, Maresca stated: “We believe that having Malo play in a more advanced position can create issues for our opponents. He is performing exceptionally well. Malo is contributing significantly to our tactics, functioning as a holding midfielder, occupying space effectively, and at times acting as a central midfielder. He is certainly doing well and is likely to keep progressing.”
The 22-year-old, who moved to Chelsea from Olympique Lyon for €25 million in January 2023, has made 94 appearances for the club, 65 of which were in the Premier League. He has registered eight assists during his tenure, but despite his efforts, Gusto has yet to score at the senior level. This season, he has been particularly active, attempting 11 shots on goal across competitions without hitting the target. However, he is not alone in his quest to break his goal drought.
In fact, Gusto’s 118 appearances in top-flight leagues with both Chelsea and Lyon rank him seventh among players who have yet to score a single goal. The longest streak belongs to Abdoulaye Bamba, who has played for Angers and Dijon in France without scoring in 154 games. Liverpool’s long-time defender Joe Gomez follows in second place with 151 games, while West Ham’s Igor Julio is third with 142. Antonee Robinson, who has been a standout creator in the Premier League with 10 assists this season, has also not found the net in 139 appearances for Fulham.
La Liga players Juan Cruz and Aihen Muñoz, who play for Osasuna and Real Sociedad respectively, follow Robinson with 134 and 132 games without scoring. Gusto sits at No. 7 on the list. Serie A’s Sebastian Walukiewicz has a 114-game goalless stretch for Sassuolo, while new Atlético Madrid signing Matteo Ruggeri has yet to score in 105 appearances. Lecce’s Antonino Gallo completes the top 10, with Bologna’s Jhon Lucumí being the only other player to reach 100 appearances without a goal. Alex Kral, formerly of West Ham and now at Union Berlin, is 12th on the list with 94 appearances and no goals, while Wales international Ethan Ampadu—who has played for several clubs across three different top-five leagues, including RB Leipzig, Venezia, and Leeds United—has also yet to register a goal in his 94 games.
As Gusto returns from international duty with the French national team, he is expected to feature when Chelsea takes on Nottingham Forest this Saturday. Few players will be more eager to find the net than he is.
