This Maresca decision could prove it’s the beginning of the end for €60m star at Chelsea | OneFootball

Christopher Nkunku has been linked with moves away from Chelsea in recent weeks because he can’t get into the Premier League XI.

So yesterday when it became clear that Pedro Neto wasn’t fit, everyone was expecting Nkunku to finally get his chance. We were all pretty surprised that Enzo Maresca didn’t take this chance to reward the former RB Leipzig man for his patience in the B team.

Our writer Simon Phillips had similar thoughts on his Substack:

“I was surprised he didn’t start… Nkunku did come off the bench as a second half sub, but there was good chances for him to start the game with many players missing or not being fit enough to start.”

If Nkunku can’t get in the team even with Neto out, he really is deep on the attacking depth chart. Joao Felix was given the nod over the Frenchman yesterday, which won’t help his apparent growing desire to leave and move somewhere he will be used as a key player.

Joao Felix dances beyond a Leicester defender. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Felix seizes his chance to leave Nkunku in the dust

The worst part for Nkunku in all this is that Felix really seized the chance he was given. We can all admire his tricks and flicks in the Conference League, but the feeling is that he doesn’t really perform against top opposition, and is more style over substance.

Well yesterday he rose to the challenge – he put a shift in, he made tackles and won duels. In fact he completed more take ons, made more tackles and won more duels than anyone else in the first half. The competition between the two of them is certainly working to get the best out of the Portugal star. Maybe it will finally be what gets him performing to the level of his talent at last?

It’s your move, Christopher…