
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has shed light on Joao Felix’s challenging situation in the team, citing fierce competition among the club’s attacking options.
The Portuguese forward, who joined Chelsea for €55m, has found game time hard to come by despite his recent impressive display, scoring two goals in a 5-0 FA Cup victory over Morecambe.
Maresca addressed Felix’s role, acknowledging the difficulty of accommodating him alongside other attacking players:
“No, I don’t need more from him. The only thing I’ve said since the start of this season is that it’s difficult to play him with so many attacking players.”
He further elaborated on the balancing act required when selecting his starting lineup:
“In my view, if Joao plays, it means Cole doesn’t play. Or, if Joao plays, he has to play with Cole together, but it depends on the game.”
Highlighting the similarities between Felix and other key players, Maresca explained the rotational strategy being employed: “For me, it’s quite simple: we have three players who are more or less similar—Cole, Joao, and Christopher Nkunku. Joao played some games, Christo also played, and they both started against Ipswich and Southampton. They played in Leicester as well. Some games, they can both play together, but not every game because every match is different.”
Felix’s recent performance in the FA Cup showcased his quality, but with Cole Palmer and Christopher Nkunku also competing for spots in the team, Maresca faces tough decisions when setting up his lineup for each match.
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