Maresca hints at experimental Chelsea team | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca has hinted he could experiment with Cole Palmer and Joao Felix as dual number tens for Chelsea.

Palmer has been Chelsea’s standout talent since arriving from Manchester City and has started the new season in electric form, with seven goals and five assists in nine league appearances.

Chelsea added to their options with the capture of Joao Felix in the summer, re-signing the former loanee from Atletico Madrid. The two have competed for a place in the side this season, though Maresca believes the pair are capable of playing together.

“It’s a matter of balance. Romeo [Lavia] and Moises [Caicedo] give us physicality, strength in the middle. This is why we found the option of Malo [Gusto] in the pocket,” Maresca said at his pre-match press conference ahead of facing Manchester United.

“When we play with Enzo [Fernandez], it has to be Enzo and one between Moi and Romeo. When Enzo moves we struggle in the middle with physicality. In this moment, Moi and Romeo give us this.

“This [lack of physicality] doesn’t mean that we can’t play with Joao [Felix] and Cole [Palmer] in the pocket. Soon, we are going to see Joao [Felix] and Cole [Palmer] together in the pocket. It’s always the game that requires [something] a little bit different.”

One player who is thriving this season is Nicolas Jackson. Maresca said he is ‘very happy’ with the development of Chelsea forward who has been in terrific form during the opening weeks of the Premier League campaign. The 23-year-old extended his record to six goals and three assists in nine games last weekend.

Jackson is aiming to score for the third game running against Manchester United and Maresca said the Senegalese striker has been hugely important to his side’s season.

“We are very happy because Nico is helping us, not just in terms of numbers but in the way we want to play,” Maresca said at his pre-match press conference.

“The way he links with his team-mates is helping us in our process. When he drops he gives us an extra man. When he attacks in behind, he is quick and can score goals. You saw against Newcastle when he drops, the options he gives.

“We are very happy. We try to work with him in different areas, one is when he drops but also what he has to do then. We have been trying to improve Nico since we started.”

Read – Maresca dismisses lack of faith in £106m Chelsea signing

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