Cole Palmer’s strong performances are making it hard for Chelsea’s coach to choose players.
Palmer’s ability to shine for Chelsea has made him almost impossible to drop from the team. This situation has left Christopher Nkunku, a striker with 11 goals this season, feeling frustrated. Nkunku might think his chances at Chelsea are slipping away.
Nkunku has only played 11 minutes in the Premier League this season, which is surprising for a player who has scored 11 goals and provided one assist in just 19 games. He has also scored five goals in four Conference League matches, making his lack of playing time even more frustrating.
Maresca, however, insists that Nkunku is not unhappy. He mentioned that he spoke with Nkunku recently, and the player did not express any dissatisfaction. Maresca acknowledged that while Nkunku wants to play more, many players feel the same way, especially with a busy schedule coming up in December.
The coach also made it clear that Nkunku is not for sale, but he understands why the striker wants more playing time. Maresca explained that the challenge is balancing the team. If they play with Palmer, they also have to consider other attacking players like Joao Felix, Noni Madueke, or Jadon Sancho.
Maresca pointed out that these players are more focused on attacking rather than defending, which creates a need for balance in the team. In the last game against Leicester, they tried playing Palmer and Felix together. Maresca is open to experimenting with different combinations, including Nkunku with Palmer or Felix.
Palmer has clearly become a key player for Chelsea, and depending on the opponent, Maresca may choose to use other players instead of Nkunku. After a season filled with injuries, Nkunku hoped that this year would be his chance to shine. So far, he hasn’t had much to celebrate.
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