“No they didn’t” – Bad news for Felix and Nkunku who may have hoped for Premier League start | OneFootball

Chelsea’s big win over Morecambe in the FA Cup today saw Enzo Maresca deploy effectively a second team, with most of his big hitters on the bench.

Two of those B team stars – Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku – scored, and given the first team have struggled for wins, will fancy they’ve increased their chances of breaking into the Premier League selection to inject some creativity and goals.

Maresca was asked whether the pair – who have 20 goals between them this season – are “knocking at the door” to start more in the league. He pushed back against the suggestion:

“No, they didn’t knock the door. They didn’t ask nothing but they don’t need to ask; you can see that they show, like tonight, but two games against Ipswich we start with Joao and Christo. In the previous games, we also start some games with them.

“They have got their chance already in the Premier League and that doesn’t mean every time they play in the Premier League that they have to score or assist. The important thing is when we need them, they are there.”

Maresca could yet start one of the two – but Ipswich evidence counts against them

Chelsea signed Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid. (Photo by Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images)

Maresca has a point – it was only a couple of weeks ago that he did start both of them in a league game. And Chelsea lost 2-0 against Ipswich. It’s true that they’ve played well and scored when starting in the cups, but let’s face it, the opposition they’re up against has been pretty low grade.

Still, if Noni Madueke is out ill, there’s a chance one of them gets to start in Cole Palmer’s role, with Chelsea’s talisman potentially moved out to the right wing if Maresca doesn’t fancy using Pedro Neto.