After benching him today, we won hugely against such a good team…I’m convinced he’s our problem and as a result, he has been removed permanently “: Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca permanently removed ONE particular player from his squad
After benching him today, we won hugely against such a good team…I’m convinced he’s our problem and as a result, he has been removed permanently “: Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca permanently removed ONE particular player from his squad
Christopher Nkunku’s unhappiness at Chelsea has likely built following Saturday’s 2-1 Premier League win over Leicester
The France international attacker was again left out of Enzo Maresca’s starting XI for the fixture, despite Joao Felix and Enzo Fernandez being brought back into the team.
Nkunku spent much of the match watching on from the bench before making a brief cameo as the Blues picked up a victory that puts them in the title conversation.
And though the former PSG and RB Leipzig attacker has been in good form, he has barely been given Premier League minutes and would like to join Manchester United in the January transfer window.
“If the biggest problem Chelsea have is a couple of player being unhappy and not getting enough game time, then you know the club’s in a healthy position,” Joe Cole told TNT Sports.
“Nkunku gives you something different to Jackson. Jackson’s a spinner who’ll run in behind, he’s aggressive, he’ll do a lot. Nkunku is clean and is a good finisher, he can play in a No.10 and can play off either side.
“I think they can complement each other and they will both get game time.”
Nkunku to get his chance
Former England international Cole believes that Chelsea’s packed fixture schedule will help both Nkunku in his quest to break back into the team and Maresca when it comes to keeping the €60 million attacker happy.
“I don’t mind it when players let it know when they’re not happy. It’s about how he conducts himself,” he continued.
“When I look at Enzo Maresca, he’ll be dealing with that situation and Nkunku’s standards won’t be allowed to slip. He’s playing European football. He keeps scoring goals and he will get his opportunity to play.”
What happening with Nkunku?
Nkunku, 27, has seen his career stagnate since joining Chelsea little over a year ago.
This is a situation that he has previously experienced at PSG while still a younger, and he chose to force his way out of that situation.
Now at the peak of his career, it would be understandable if he were to seek an exit in order to get the game time he feels he deserves. Manchester United are making him this promise.
His record at Chelsea this season deserves much respect, too. He has 10 goals in 18 appearances but has only played 697, giving him a remarkable scoring record of having netted every 70 minutes he has played.
Despite this, Maresca has chosen to restrict him to game time in the minor competitions, effectively freezing Nkunku out of Premier League action.
