Enzo Maresca has openly expressed his ‘shame’ at struggling to incorporate £229million of attacking talent into his first-team plans.
Since taking the helm at Stamford Bridge from Leicester, the Italian tactician has guided Chelsea to fourth place in the Premier League after securing five wins in their first 10 matches. Maresca has led the Blues to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup and off to a flying start in the Europa Conference League.
Yet, he faces one persistent dilemma: successfully integrating their high-profile attacking signings into the starting XI. Returning on a permanent deal, £46m Joao Felix has only made five appearances in the Premier League this season, while £52m Christopher Nkunku, another costly acquisition, has been limited to a single league start.
Ahead of Chelsea’s game against Noah, Maresca confessed: “I feel a shame for Joao and I would like to give him more minutes in the Premier League, but we need defensive balance and we cannot play with Joao, Cole [Palmer – who cost £42m], Christo [Nkunku],” reports the Mirror.
Conceding challenges in finding team equilibrium, he added: “I’d like to put all of them on the pitch but then you need to defend, and you need the right balance. I don’t have any doubts that if Joao keeps working well, he will find his moment in the Premier League.”
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Particularly in the spotlight has been Nkunku, who was anticipated to make a significant impact this season but has been hampered by the same kind of injury troubles that marred his debut year following his transfer from RB Leipzig. Despite already netting eight times this season, most of Christo’s goals have been in cup competitions.
Maresca praised the player, saying: “Christo, every time he plays, he scores, and he does well. Also, he was probably our best player in pre-season, no doubt.
“He was playing then as an attacking midfielder and now we are using him as a nine, which we all know isn’t his position, he’s more a second striker or between the lines.
“But I try to find solution and balance with all of them but not all of them can be in their position, they have to adapt a bit. It’s for Joao, Christo, Misha [Mudryk – who cost £89m], they are all players who deserve more chances in the Premier League, but there are also more players who deserve that.”
Maresca is considering shaking things up for Thursday’s match against Noah, before Chelsea’s derby against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.