Why Joao Felix should be absolutely furious with Enzo Maresca following Chelsea’s defeat to Ipswich

Add as preferred source on Google

Joao Felix would have been frustrated going into Chelsea’s game against Ipswich Town on Monday.

Before Chelsea‘s trip to Portman Road, Joao Felix had only made two starts in the Premier League.

Monday’s match, then, was just his third of the season, but it ended earlier than he would have liked after Enzo Maresca withdrew him from the game before the hour mark.

It is a decision that Felix could not have been happy with, especially given how some of Chelsea’s other attackers performed on the night. Despite his lack of minutes, it is believed that Felix will be staying at Chelsea in January.

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

Joao Felix did not deserve to be substituted before Christopher Nkunku

Felix was the first Chelsea player to be taken off at Portman Road, with Maresca replacing him with Nicolas Jackson in the 55th minute.

Really, though, it should have been Christopher Nkunku who was sacrificed first. The 27-year-old was anonymous throughout the game.

For example, Nkunku had just 34 touches in the match. No outfield player who started for Chelsea recorded fewer than the Frenchman.

He could not get involved in the game and should have been swapped with Jackson, but Maresca had other ideas.

All in all, it was a poor display by Nkunku, who probably should have scored after one of Cole Palmer’s efforts rebounded straight to him in the first half.

Joao Felix looked dangerous against Ipswich Town

Felix started the match quite slowly and was looking pretty ineffective on the left wing, which is not his natural position.

However, he grew into the game and started to look really threatening after moving into more central areas.

As a result of doing so, Felix even managed to find the back of the net, though his goal was ruled out after a marginal offside.

The Portuguese had two shots on target and registered one key pass. Ultimately, he did way more than Nkunku and probably should have been allowed to stay on the pitch for a bit longer.

Felix has absolutely every right to be furious with Maresca right now. The Chelsea boss made a real blunder taking him off against Ipswich.