'Darwin Nunez is similar to Drogba' says Chelsea legend
Cameron Smith
- 27 Oct 2023 12:19 BST
- 3 min read
Chelsea legend Joe Cole has compared Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez to former Blues star Didier Drogba after the Uruguayan netted his fifth goal of the season on Thursday night.
Nunez scored Liverpool’s third goal in a 5-1 demolition of Toulouse in the Europa League, although he did miss a glaring open goal before Ryan Gravenberch slotted home after Nunez’s effort had cannoned off the post.
The Uruguay international joined Liverpool from Benfica for an initial €80 million last summer, but he is yet to establish himself as the club’s first-choice number nine.
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Since Cody Gakpo’s arrival in January, Jurgen Klopp has mostly favoured the Dutchman from the start, with Nunez restricted to a role as an impact substitute.
His chaotic nature in the final-third does suit this role, and former Chelsea and Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole believes Nunez’s finishing must improve before he can be considered a success at Anfield.
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What has been said about Nunez?
Speaking to TNT Sports as a pundit after Liverpool’s win over Toulouse, Cole was asked about Nunez and his open goal miss. He said: “I think it does [sum him up as a player] but I think that can be harsh on him because he’s got so much to his game.
“He gets an A* in every part of his game, and his performance tonight was also fantastic but his finishing is a C at the moment - but that’s something he can work on.”
The former Chelsea star - who made 281 appearances for the Blues and helped them win three Premier League titles - then compared Nunez to his former team-mate Didier Drogba. "It’s something [finishing] that often comes later on in strikers, something that they work on later like Didier Drogba,” Cole added.
“When he arrived at Chelsea, he wasn’t as polished as when he became the legend he was so the Liverpool fans will be hoping Darwin Nunez can turn into that kind of striker, one who seizes those opportunities and gets better with age.”
Drogba ended his Chelsea career with 164 goals and 88 assists in 381 games, including 10 goals in major cup finals. He also scored the late equaliser and winning penalty as Chelsea beat Bayern Munich in the 2012 Champions League final.
