Enzo Maresca says it’s ‘difficult’ to start midfielder who’s scored 7 goals this season | OneFootball

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has admitted that it is very difficult for him to play one of his midfielders who’s scored 7 goals this season.

Scoring 7 goals in 18 matches across all competitions is pretty good for a midfielder, even if said player is an attacking midfielder. So it might sound odd to hear your manager saying that it is difficult to play you when you are giving that return.

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But Joao Felix will always split opinions, even if in my opinion he has probably now done enough to get handed a run of starts in league matches as well as cup games. He scored two superb goals for Chelsea in the FA Cup against Morecambe on Saturday afternoon, and he has had some very good games in the Conference League as well.

The issue for Felix is that Chelsea have Cole Palmer and Christopher Nkunku, who also scored on Saturday, in his position, and it is Palmer who is the regular starter there in league matches, and we all know just how good he has been since he joined the club from Manchester City.

Maresca on why he doesn’t pick Felix

Joao Felix strikes the ball home against Morecambe. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

The Italian said when asked whether he wants more from the 25-year-old: “No, 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.

“In my idea it means that 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.

“For me it’s quite easy, we have three players but they are more or less similar; Cole, Joao and Christopher Nkunku.

“Joao played some games, Christo [Nkunku] also played and they both started against Ipswich and Southampton they played, Leicester they played. Some games they can both play together but not every game because every game is a bit different.”

Quotes via The Daily Mirror.