Enzo Maresca gives tense answers over Nkunku, Palmer and Jackson as the pressure rises | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca’s team selections at the moment are very tricky. He’s got to balance the final stages of a European campaign with a very tough run in in the Premier League.

He’s got a lot of important players freshly back from injuries and others who need to have their minutes carefully managed. There’s almost no team he could pick which would please everyone.

After playing Nicolas Jackson for a game and a half last week, the manager has chosen to bench him today and trust Christopher Nkunku, whose form has been dire. The coach was asked about these decisions ahead of kick off in tonight’s quarter final against Legia Warsaw.

“It’s because we trust Christo, that he can have a good game, and can help us win the game. We want to see a good game, hopefully we can win, we know that this will be a tough game for different reasons [the crowd].”

So, not giving much away there then. What about Cole Palmer, who played the same amount as Jackson last week yet is starting tonight, with much of the rest of the first team rested?

“He is playing already a big part since we started the season and for sure he’s going to continue to play a big part.”

Again, not exactly forthcoming with the information here. Is he tense, grumpy, worried or just focused on the game?

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A Legia Warsaw banner showing UEFA as greedy pigs.

This is going to be a very tough game, and as Maresca hinted in his answer, that will come more from the atmosphere than the opposition players.

We just hope the likes of Palmer and Jackson can make it through unscathed and be fit and ready to earn an essential 3 points against Ipswich on Sunday.