Enzo Maresca explains axing Chelsea summer signing after just three Premier League starts
Enzo Maresca deemed Joao Felix surplus to requirements at Chelsea (Picture: Getty) Enzo Maresca has opened up on his decision to sanction Joao Felix’s loan move to AC Milan just six months after he rejoined Chelsea. The Portugal international has endured something of a nomadic career having already represented the likes of Benfica, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. Felix returned to west London in the summer having spent six months at Stamford Bridge on loan two years ago when Graham Potter was in charge, prior to his sacking and Frank Lampard’s interim tenure. The 25-year-old had hoped to cement a place in Maresca’s plans but he was almost immediately reduced to a bit-part role. Although he made 21 appearances during the first half of the campaign, he started only three Premier League matcheswith his last coming Ipswich on December 30. Despite their £45million investment, Felix will spend the remainder of the campaign at Milan and he made his debut against Roma earlier his week. ‘Nothing happened,’ insisted Maresca, speaking ahead of this weekend’s FA Cup tie against Brighton. Joao Felix has joined Milan on loan from Chelsea (Picture: Getty) ‘Simply, I said many times, that the players train every day and they want to play all the games. ‘Unfortunately, just 11 play all the games and we decide altogether that that it was a good option to leave. ‘He never complained. He has been very good with us, professional. Just a matter of my decision. ‘The reason why is because we need defensive balance. When you have so many attacking players, sometimes you can concede a transition or a goal and I don’t like that.’ Maresca, meanwhile, revealed Marc Guiu suffered a long-term injury in Chelsea’s 2-1 Premier League win over West Ham on Monday. The 19-year-old striker, who came on for Nicolas Jackson at Stamford Bridge, hobbled off at full-time after Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s own goal helped the Blues come from behind to seal three points. Marc Guiu is a long-term injury concern for Chelsea (Picture: Getty) Maresca revealed the Spaniard, who joined from Barcelona in the summer, is now a long-term concern alongside the likes of Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana. He said: ‘With Marc it’s a bad injury. It doesn’t look like a short injury and exactly how long I don’t know. Probably weeks or months.” Nine-goal Jackson went off with a knock on Monday but the extent of his injury is thought to be minor. The absence of Guiu and Jackson leaves Maresca with Christopher Nkunku as Chelsea’s only senior striker option ahead of their trip to the Amex Stadium. ‘It could be a risk but it doesn’t look long-term,’ Maresca added when asked about Jackson’s fitness status. ‘It doesn’t look like a long injury, exactly how long we don’t know. Lavia is still a long way to go.” Out-of-favour Nkunku gained minutes off the bench against West Ham after a January window of reports linking him away from Stamford Bridge. With recent injuries and the loan of Joao Felix to AC Milan, increased Premier League minutes for the French forward will be more likely according to Maresca. ‘For sure,’ the manager said when questioned if Nkunku is to play more. ‘Against West Ham he played 30 minutes and from now on he can get more minutes and can help us. ‘I and the club was sure that Christopher was one of the players who we intended to keep.’
Enzo Maresca has opened up on his decision to sanction Joao Felix’s loan move to AC Milan just six months after he rejoined Chelsea.
The Portugal international has endured something of a nomadic career having already represented the likes of Benfica, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona.
Felix returned to west London in the summer having spent six months at Stamford Bridge on loan two years ago when Graham Potter was in charge, prior to his sacking and Frank Lampard’s interim tenure.
The 25-year-old had hoped to cement a place in Maresca’s plans but he was almost immediately reduced to a bit-part role.
Although he made 21 appearances during the first half of the campaign, he started only three Premier League matcheswith his last coming Ipswich on December 30.
Despite their £45million investment, Felix will spend the remainder of the campaign at Milan and he made his debut against Roma earlier his week.
‘Nothing happened,’ insisted Maresca, speaking ahead of this weekend’s FA Cup tie against Brighton.
‘Simply, I said many times, that the players train every day and they want to play all the games.
‘Unfortunately, just 11 play all the games and we decide altogether that that it was a good option to leave.
‘He never complained. He has been very good with us, professional. Just a matter of my decision.
‘The reason why is because we need defensive balance. When you have so many attacking players, sometimes you can concede a transition or a goal and I don’t like that.’
Maresca, meanwhile, revealed Marc Guiu suffered a long-term injury in Chelsea’s 2-1 Premier League win over West Ham on Monday.
The 19-year-old striker, who came on for Nicolas Jackson at Stamford Bridge, hobbled off at full-time after Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s own goal helped the Blues come from behind to seal three points.
Maresca revealed the Spaniard, who joined from Barcelona in the summer, is now a long-term concern alongside the likes of Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana.
He said: ‘With Marc it’s a bad injury. It doesn’t look like a short injury and exactly how long I don’t know. Probably weeks or months.”
Nine-goal Jackson went off with a knock on Monday but the extent of his injury is thought to be minor.
The absence of Guiu and Jackson leaves Maresca with Christopher Nkunku as Chelsea’s only senior striker option ahead of their trip to the Amex Stadium.
‘It could be a risk but it doesn’t look long-term,’ Maresca added when asked about Jackson’s fitness status.
‘It doesn’t look like a long injury, exactly how long we don’t know. Lavia is still a long way to go.”
Out-of-favour Nkunku gained minutes off the bench against West Ham after a January window of reports linking him away from Stamford Bridge.
With recent injuries and the loan of Joao Felix to AC Milan, increased Premier League minutes for the French forward will be more likely according to Maresca.
‘For sure,’ the manager said when questioned if Nkunku is to play more. ‘Against West Ham he played 30 minutes and from now on he can get more minutes and can help us.
‘I and the club was sure that Christopher was one of the players who we intended to keep.’
