Enzo Maresca’s past comments show Joao Felix is fighting a losing battle at Chelsea

Add as preferred source on Google

Joao Felix’s return to Chelsea in the summer actually got off to a good start.

Joao Felix managed to score on his second debut for the club, netting in Chelsea‘s 6-2 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers back in August.

However, since then, the forward has not really been able to kick on in the Premier League. In total, he has made just two starts in the top flight.

It is now being reported that Felix is not happy at Chelsea, and that may not change any time soon.

• READ MORE: The three biggest losers from Chelsea’s shock defeat to Fulham have already become clear

Enzo Maresca struggling to fit Joao Felix into the team

Last month, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca claimed that he wants to give Felix more minutes.

Because of the need for defensive balance, though, the Chelsea boss has said that he cannot start Felix, Cole Palmer and Christopher Nkunku all in the same team.

“I feel a shame for Joao and I would like to give him more minutes in the Premier League, but we need defensive balance and we cannot play with Joao, Cole, Christo,” Maresca was quoted as saying by Chelsea’s official website.

If his situation does not improve, then Felix could push for a move, despite having only joined the Blues in the summer.

Joao Felix has impossible job

While Felix is able to play in multiple attacking positions, his best role is just behind the striker.

Unfortunately for him, though, Palmer’s form since the beginning of last season means that the Englishman is an undisputed starter. Maresca is never going to drop Chelsea’s star man for Felix.

Maresca could always go with two attacking midfielders, a tactic he employed in Chelsea’s 8-0 win against Noah in the Conference League.

But considering his comments on needing defensive balance, the 44-year-old doing that seems unlikely. That is understandable; in the Premier League, Chelsea could get absolutely shredded using a formation like the 4-1-4-1.

Ultimately, then, at this moment in time, Felix getting into Chelsea’s starting XI seems virtually impossible. Unless Palmer picks up a serious injury, you would expect the Portugal international to remain a bench player.