At a press conference on the eve of Chelsea’s European Cup match, Enzo Maresca responded with a hint of irony to a journalist’s question about the French international’s desire for playing time.
Enzo Maresca is a coach who is clearly as teasing as he is annoyed. At the head of a gargantuan squad, overflowing with talent, especially offensive ones, the Chelsea coach must manage the desire for playing time and the ambitions of many players, including French international Christopher Nkunku, the Blues’ flagship signing for the summer of 2023.
Used sparingly this season, particularly in the Premier League where he has only played 163 minutes in 11 matches, the Frenchman could want more. Asked about this at a press conference on Wednesday, on the eve of the Blues’ Europa Conference League match, the very balding Enzo Maresca responded with irony. “Nkunku would like to play more? And I would like to have long hair. That’s how it is…”
“Joao Felix played a Premier League match the other day against Leicester. And of course Christopher Nkunku is also going to play Premier League matches. But we have a lot of players and we try to share the minutes between them. We want to make them all happy, even if sometimes it is not possible.”
“I spoke with Christopher a few days ago, he did not tell me he was unhappy, continues the Italian, who categorically ruled out parting ways with the Frenchman this winter. Of course, he would like to play more, but like many players. We have so many games…”
Maresca does not isolate Nkunku, on the contrary. But he highlights a characteristic of his squad that has the merit of jumping out at you: it has too many alternatives. “It is the same question with him as with the others: if you play with Cole (Palmer), Joao (Felix), Christo (Nkunku), Noni (Madueke), Jadon (Sancho)… who defends?” Fortunately for Maresca, Chelsea’s squad is also copiously stocked in defense.
Leave a Reply