Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has offered a candid assessment of Christopher Nkunku’s recent struggles in front of goal, but remains fully behind the Frenchman as he looks to rediscover his confidence and form.

Nkunku’s latest outing — a 3-0 win over Legia Warsaw — once again saw him fail to find the net. Despite Chelsea’s dominant performance, all eyes were on the forward when he stepped up to take a penalty. Unfortunately, Nkunku was unable to convert, missing what could have been a golden opportunity to break his goal drought.

Speaking after the match, Maresca addressed the issue head-on, pointing to a lack of belief as the main factor behind Nkunku’s difficulties. “A lack of confidence in this moment but the only way to deal with that is to work hard,” Maresca explained.

The Chelsea coach made it clear, however, that he’s not concerned about Nkunku’s attitude or commitment. In fact, Maresca praised the forward’s professionalism and effort on the training ground. “The good thing about Christo is that he’s working well every day,” he added.